I’ve had enough, sprinter Onyah threatens to dump Nigeria

Nigerian sprinter Favour Onyah has issued a stark warning that she may cease representing her country after being controversially omitted from the athletics squad for the upcoming 2026 Commonwealth Games.

Onyah, a 19-year-old talent, secured her spot on the team by winning the women's 400m final at the national trials with a commanding time of 52.68 seconds. She was also slated to be part of the women's 4x400m relay team. However, despite qualifying and participating in the initial training camp in Abuja, she was not selected for the final contingent.

Expressing her deep frustration via a TikTok post, Onyah stated, "Yes, I qualified for my first senior Commonwealth Games. And yes, I won’t be running for Nigeria. You can never guess the reason. I already forgave them three times; I don’t plan on making it four. You all are free to judge me for the next step I’ll be taking. I’ve had enough."

“

Yes, I qualified for my first senior Commonwealth Games. And yes, I won’t be running for Nigeria. You can never guess the reason. I already forgave them three times; I don’t plan on making it four. You all are free to judge me for the next step I’ll be taking. I’ve had enough.

This decision has sparked criticism, with former sprinter and coach Deji Aliu condemning the Athletics Federation of Nigeria for its perceived inconsistency in selection standards. Aliu emphasized the importance of clear, published selection criteria, such as trials, qualifying marks, and rankings, to build trust with athletes and sponsors.

Onyah's potential withdrawal highlights ongoing issues within Nigerian athletics, where athletes have previously voiced disappointment with selection processes. Earlier this year, Onyah also represented Nigeria at the African Senior Athletics Championships, where she won multiple gold medals, underscoring her value to the national team.

“

Every serious athletics nation runs on clear, published selection criteria, trials, qualifying marks, rankings and head-to-head results. No ambiguity. Athletes know, ‘If I hit this, I’m on the team.’ That transparency is what builds trust with the athletes, the public and, most importantly, sponsors.