Fed-up Onyah hints at abandoning Nigeria track team

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Nigerian sprinter Favour Onyah has threatened to stop representing the country after she was omitted from the athletics squad for the 2026 Commonwealth Games despite qualifying at the national trials, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.

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Onyah was among the 15 athletes who opened camp in Abuja on June 25 following their performances at the National Athletics Trials in Lagos.

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She stormed to victory in the women’s 400m final, clocking a commanding 52.68s to win the national title.

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The 19-year-old was also selected as part of Nigeria’s women’s 4x400m relay team alongside Patience Okon-George, Ella Onojuvwevwo and Esther Joseph.

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After the Abuja camp, the athletics team joined the rest of Nigeria’s contingent in Aberdeen, Scotland, for the final phase of preparations at the Aberdeen Sports Village ahead of the Games.

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However, Onyah did not make it beyond the first phase of camp in Abuja and has since returned to her US base to resume training.

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Expressing her frustration in a TikTok post, the sprinter suggested she had reached her limit after what she described as repeated disappointments.

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“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.”

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Earlier this year, Onyah represented Nigeria at the African Senior Athletics Championships in Ghana as a member of the women’s 4x400m relay team.

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Onyah is also a triple gold medallist from the 2025 CAA U-20 African Athletics Championships held in Abeokuta, Ogun State.

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She won the women’s 400m title in 52.47s, finishing half a second ahead of the silver medallist before anchoring Nigeria’s women’s 4x400m relay team to gold in a winning time of 3:37.02, with the team finishing seven seconds clear of the rest of the field.

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Her third gold medal came in the mixed 4x400m relay, where she again ran the anchor leg to help Nigeria complete a clean sweep of the relay events.

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Following the National Trials, several athletes who excelled in Lagos also expressed disappointment with the selection process for the Commonwealth Games.

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Former Nigerian sprinter and athletics coach Deji Aliu also criticised the Athletics Federation of Nigeria over what he described as its inconsistency in adhering to its selection standards.

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“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,” Aliu said.

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“Athletes lose faith if selection looks political or is handled through last-minute decisions. Sponsors also walk away. No brand wants to attach its name to a federation that appears chaotic or unfair. Sponsors fund systems, not drama. They want visibility and credibility.”

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