Favour Ashe dumps Nigeria for Qatar due to ‘substandard facilities’
Nigeria sprint sensation Favour Ashe has confirmed he has applied to switch his international allegiance to Qatar, pending approval from World Athletics. Ashe, who ranks among Nigeria’s top 100m performers
Nigeria sprint sensation Favour Ashe has confirmed he has applied to switch his international allegiance to Qatar, pending approval from World Athletics.
Ashe, who ranks among Nigeria’s top 100m performers all-time and rose to prominence during his collegiate career in the United States, disclosed that dissatisfaction with his treatment at the 2025 National Sports Festival influenced his decision.
According to the sprinter, athletics administrators failed to show “human feeling” in their dealings with him.
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The former NCAA standout explained that returning home after completing his studies became professionally challenging due to limited access to quality training infrastructure. He cited substandard track facilities and the absence of structured elite athlete support as major setbacks.
Ashe revealed he has been training in Qatar for the past five months and was surprised by the number of Nigerian athletes currently based in the Gulf state.
He expressed optimism about the possibility of forming a strong 4x100m relay squad under Qatar’s system.
Under World Athletics transfer regulations, athletes seeking to change nationality must meet eligibility requirements, including waiting periods and clearance from both federations. A final decision is now subject to ratification by the global governing body.
The development adds Ashe’s name to a growing list of African athletes who have switched allegiance in pursuit of improved training conditions and competitive opportunities.
