When athletes represent their nation on the area stage, it’s usually the result of years of dedication, self-discipline, and a give a enhance to gadget that understands the weight of worldwide competitors.
Sadly, for some Nigerian athletes, that give a enhance to gadget failed badly. Over time, a pair of elite athletes earn grew to turn into their backs on Nigeria and embraced other countries, now not out of disloyalty, but out of sheer frustration with the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN).
From mishandled drug testing to neglect and absence of structure, right here are 5 athletes who chose to compete for other countries after being let down by their dwelling federation.
Favour Ofili – From Nigeria to Turkey
From a hit medals on the African Video games to setting nationwide records, Favour Ofili used to be Nigeria’s rising valuable particular person. But her relationship with the AFN gradually fell aside.
It started with frequent administrative hiccups, uncared for entries for competitions, and a same old lack of structure. Even as she broke collegiate records within the U.S. and licensed for world occasions, she usually had to address the chaos lend a hand dwelling unclear dialog, unpaid allowances, and unexplained selections.
In 2024, it was clear she had reached her limit. Ofili switched allegiance to Turkeya nation now alive to to give a enhance to her Olympic ambitions. The AFN didn’t withstand the transfer; primarily, they admitted they couldn’t stop her.
Now, Ofili faces a doable three-year ban from worldwide competitors due to World Athletics’ transfer principles, but that hasn’t deterred her.
Annette Echikunwoke – From Nigeria to the US
Annette Echikunwoke’s heartbreak started perfect earlier than the most effective moment of her athletic career. A top hammer thrower and NCAA champion, she used to be primed to represent Nigeria on the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. But as a replace of standing on the sector in her inexperienced-and-white tracksuit, she used to be sitting on the sidelines disqualified.
Why? The AFN failed to put together the mandatory drug tests required by World Athletics. Although Echikunwoke provided her whereabouts a pair of instances, no check used to be conducted.
Due to this, she and nine other Nigerian athletes were ruled ineligible. It used to be a bitter journey. One which triggered her to swap allegiance to the US, her birth nation.
She later went on to procure silver on the 2024 Olympics for Team USA, making history because the main American girl to medal within the hammer throw.
Salwa Eid Naser – From Nigeria to Bahrain
Born Ebelechukwu Agbapuonwu in Onitsha, Salwa’s capability used to be evident early. However the ambiance to nurture it? No longer so worthy. At 14, she moved together with her family to Bahrain, and supreme two years later, she formally switched allegiance. She also transformed to Islam and altered her name.
Whereas she infrequently ever speaks about her journey with the AFN, her silence speaks volumes. The Bahraini gadget, in contrast to Nigeria’s, gave her ranking correct of entry to to world-class facilities and consistent worldwide competitors.
The outcomes? A 2017 World Championship silver medal, a 2019 World title within the 400m, and the third-fastest time in history (48.14 seconds).
Femi Ogunode – From Nigeria to Qatar
Femi Ogunode’s memoir is one among being uncared for despite exhibiting promise. After qualifying for every and every the 2007 All-Africa Video games and the 2008 Olympics, he used to be left off Nigeria’s final list. No clarification. No dialog. Staunch disappointment.
That snub used to be the final straw. He accepted Qatar’s provide and moved there in 2009. The swap revitalized his career. In 2010, he received each and every the 200m and 400m on the Asian Video games. He also broke the Asian 100m represent with a time of 9.91 seconds.
Today, he’s one among Asia’s most decorated sprinters. If the AFN had merely given him the likelihood he earned, he could perhaps well additionally need been flying Nigeria’s flag as a replace of Qatar’s.
Francis Obikwelu – From Nigeria to Portugal
Francis Obikwelu’s split from Nigeria wasn’t perfect about neglect, it used to be about betrayal. All the most effective plan thru the 2000 Sydney Olympics, he used to be nursing a knee injury. Despite being world quantity two, his issues were brushed off by Nigerian officials who insisted he proceed competing.
The outcome? His injury worsened, and he crashed out within the semifinals. What made matters worse used to be the administrative failure that followed. Obikwelu stated the AFN told him money had been accredited for him, but no person could perhaps well additionally yarn for it.
The repeated letdowns pushed him to construct a lifestyles-changing decision: he was a Portuguese citizen. Portugal gave him the platform Nigeria didn’t. He received silver within the 100m on the 2004 Olympics, changing into the fastest man in European history on the time. He made history.
