Nigerian sprinter Favour Ashe has confirmed that he has switched allegiance to Qatar, saying he is enjoying a “new life” in his adopted country after years of frustration with athletics administration in Nigeria.
Ashe, regarded in recent times as one of Nigeria’s fastest men on the track, said the move marks a fresh start for his career.
Speaking in an interview with The Guardian, Ashe explained that his decision was driven largely by what he described as poor treatment by sports administrators.
Recounting his experience at the National Sports Festival last year, he said his participation was intended to add prestige to the event but ended in disappointment.
According to him, the way he was treated made him feel unwanted. “You don’t treat people that way and expect the best from them,” he said, stressing that he felt undervalued despite his contributions to Nigerian athletics.
Ashe also cited inadequate training facilities as a major setback. He noted that returning to train in Nigeria affected his preparation due to substandard tracks and limited support.
Having completed his studies in the United States, where he previously had access to college training facilities, he said he needed a new environment to sustain his progress.
The 9.79-second personal best holder disclosed that he has spent the past five months in Qatar and was impressed by the number of young Nigerian athletes already training there. He expressed optimism about building a formidable 4x100m relay team for Qatar.
The sprinter described the switch as the best option for his career at the moment, highlighting the professional support he has already received. On Friday, the Qatar
Athletics Federation took Ashe and other athletes to South Africa for a training tour ahead of the new season a level of exposure and structured preparation he said he had not experienced in Nigeria.
Ashe joins a growing list of Nigerian athletes changing nationality, including fellow sprinter Favour Ofili, who last year switched allegiance to Turkey, citing alleged ill treatment by officials of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) during the Paris Olympics.
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