I’ve had enough, sprinter Onyah threatens to dump Nigeria
Nigerian sprinter Favour Onyah is threatening to stop representing the country after being omitted from the 2026 Commonwealth Games squad despite qualifying. She expressed deep frustration over repeated disappointments.
Intelligence analysis by Gemini 2.5 Flash Lite
Nineteen-year-old sprinter Favour Onyah has voiced her intention to cease competing for Nigeria, citing a pattern of "repeated disappointments." Despite winning the national trials and qualifying for the Commonwealth Games, she was excluded from the final squad, leading to her decision to return to her US base and consider her future with the national team.
Imagine you trained really hard for a big race and won the qualifying round, but then the coaches decided not to let you race anyway. That's how Favour Onyah feels. She's a fast runner for Nigeria, but after being left out of a big game even though she qualified, she's so upset she might stop running for her country.
Analysis
A Sprinter's Breaking Point
Favour Onyah, a 19-year-old Nigerian sprinter, has publicly declared her intention to stop representing Nigeria due to what she describes as "repeated disappointments." Her immediate catalyst for this drastic decision appears to be her exclusion from the athletics squad for the upcoming 2026 Commonwealth Games, despite having met the qualification standards at the national trials. Onyah secured victory in the women's 400m race with a time of 52.68 seconds and was also slated for the women's 4x400m relay team. Her omission, after participating in the initial training camp in Abuja, has led her to return to her base in the United States, expressing a profound sense of frustration and a feeling of having reached her limit.
Questionable Selection Processes
Onyah's situation is not isolated, as several other athletes who performed well at the national trials have also voiced concerns about the selection process for the Commonwealth Games. This pattern of alleged unfairness and lack of transparency has drawn criticism from former Nigerian sprinter and athletics coach Deji Aliu. Aliu emphasized the importance of clear, published selection criteria, such as trials, qualifying marks, and rankings, to build trust between athletes and the federation. He warned that inconsistent or seemingly political selection decisions can erode athlete confidence and deter potential sponsors, who are crucial for funding sports systems and ensuring credibility.
Broader Implications for Nigerian Athletics
The discontent expressed by Onyah and others points to a potential crisis of confidence within Nigerian athletics. The federation's handling of selections, as perceived by the athletes, risks alienating talented individuals who have achieved success both domestically and internationally, as evidenced by Onyah's multiple gold medals at the 2025 CAA U-20 African Athletics Championships. The lack of clear, consistent selection policies can lead to a brain drain of athletes seeking more supportive and transparent environments elsewhere, ultimately weakening Nigeria's competitive standing in global athletics and hindering the development of the sport within the country.
Key points
- Sprinter Favour Onyah threatens to stop representing Nigeria after being omitted from the Commonwealth Games squad.
- Onyah qualified for the Games by winning the national trials in the 400m race.
- She cited "repeated disappointments" and a lack of transparency in the selection process.
- Former athlete Deji Aliu criticized the Athletics Federation of Nigeria for inconsistent selection standards.
- The incident raises concerns about athlete morale and the overall management of Nigerian athletics.
If the Athletics Federation of Nigeria addresses Favour Onyah's concerns and implements transparent selection criteria, it could rebuild trust with athletes. This might encourage her and other disillusioned athletes to continue representing Nigeria, potentially leading to stronger performances and a more stable national team.
If the issues surrounding selection processes are not resolved, Nigeria risks losing talented athletes like Favour Onyah to other nations. This could lead to a decline in the country's athletic performance and a continued cycle of disappointment for aspiring athletes.
