By Ben Efe 12.2.2026
A good number of Nigerian sprinters including the country’s fastest sprinter in recent times Ashe Favour are done with Nigerian track and field and are set for greener pasture in Qatar.
Ashe Favour said he found Nigerian athletics environment unfavourable to his career, so now he’s heading for a country where he would be well treated with respect and rewarded for his efforts. Sunday Akintan who recently made a mark running indoor with a time 6.48secs, since 2025 has already switch to the colours of the Arab country whose intention is to have a formidable 4x100m relays team anchored on Nigerian sprinters.
It was gathered some home-based athletes including those in camp for the Commonwealth Games are poised to jump ships and make something good out of their careers, before retirement knocks on their doors.
Ashe Favour in particular was embittered by the treatment he got during the National Sports Festival Gateway 2025, when he was disqualified from the 100m final and also, he was said to have had a shouting match with the National Sports Commission director-general Hon. Bukola Olapade over the payment of his training grant. He has a personal best of 9.79seconds and has yet to open his season in 2026.
“A whole lot of athletes are leaving for other countries and who can blame them?
“Who would want to remain in country where athletes are treated shabbily and those in authority thinking they are doing them favours by giving them a training grant of $5000 a year.
“Those who have the opportunity to leave are not looking back, soon Nigeria would be hit by an exodus of athletes, some are even ready to run for other African countries that can offer them good compensation and opportunity to compete all year round in events that appeal to them.
“Unlike here back at home where there are no competitions, no motivations and zero efforts by those in authority to make things better,” an athletics observer told mainlandmetronnews.com.ng.