Sports
Why Nigerian Sprint Star Favour Ashe Chose Qatar Over Nigeria
Nigerian sprint sensation Favour Ashe has explained why he decided to switch his international allegiance from Nigeria to Qatar, citing poor treatment, inadequate facilities and limited career opportunities at home.
Ashe, who ranks as Nigeria’s seventh-fastest man in the 100 metres with a personal best of 9.94 seconds, confirmed that he has been training in Qatar for the past five months as he prepares for a new chapter in his athletics career.
According to the 100m specialist, his experience at the 2025 National Sports Festival played a major role in his decision.
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He alleged that he was not treated properly and accused administrators of lacking empathy.
“I was not treated properly at the 2025 National Sports Festival. Those managing athletics in Nigeria showed no human feeling. Returning my career to Nigeria was a setback,” Ashe stated.
The sprinter also highlighted the challenges of training in Nigeria, pointing to substandard track facilities and limited access to quality preparation after completing his studies in the United States, where he previously benefited from structured collegiate training systems.
Ashe expressed confidence that his move will strengthen Qatar’s 4x100m relay prospects, revealing that a number of young Nigerian athletes are already training in the Gulf nation.
However, the switch is yet to receive formal approval from World Athletics. Under existing regulations, athletes who change nationality must observe a three-year waiting period from their last international appearance, meaning Ashe may not be eligible to compete for Qatar until after 2027 unless granted special clearance.
His departure adds to growing concerns about the state of athletics in Nigeria.
Recently, fellow sprint star Favour Ofili also switched allegiance to represent Turkey, further fueling debates about infrastructure, funding and athlete welfare in the country.
Reacting to reports of Ashe’s switch, President of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria, Tonobok Okowa, said the federation was not aware of the development and would begin investigations.
“I just saw the news as well, but we will investigate,” Okowa said.
As questions mount, Ashe’s decision is expected to spark renewed scrutiny of Nigeria’s athletics administration and the growing trend of top talents seeking better opportunities abroad.
Spain’s celebrations after winning the 2026 FIFA World Cup were overshadowed by tragedy after a 13-year-old boy died and several others were injured when a fountain collapsed during jubilant scenes in the western Spanish town of Ciudad Rodrigo.
The heartbreaking incident occurred shortly after Spain secured a historic 1-0 victory over Argentina in the World Cup final, ending a 16-year wait for the country’s second global football title.
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According to local authorities, emergency services received multiple distress calls at around 12:30 a.m. local time after a fountain packed with celebrating fans suddenly collapsed.
In a statement posted on Facebook, Ciudad Rodrigo City Hall confirmed the teenager’s death and expressed condolences to the victim’s family.
“The city hall of Ciudad Rodrigo expresses its sadness and presents its condolences for the death of a boy of 13.”
The municipality described the incident as a devastating turn of events, saying: “What should have been a celebration of Spain’s team in the football World Cup turned into tragedy.”
Emergency services also confirmed that another youth was injured in the collapse, while several others sustained injuries as rescue teams rushed to the scene.
Local media reported that the fountain gave way under the weight of dozens of fans who had climbed onto the structure to celebrate Spain’s World Cup triumph.
The fatal accident cast a somber mood over celebrations across the football-loving nation, with many expressing grief just hours after Spain’s memorable victory on the world stage.
Spain have been crowned 2026 FIFA World Cup champions after defeating defending champions Argentina in a thrilling final to reclaim football’s biggest prize.
La Roja delivered a composed and determined performance on the grandest stage, overcoming the South American giants to secure their second FIFA World Cup title and their first since their historic triumph in 2010.
The highly anticipated showdown lived up to expectations as both teams battled fiercely for global supremacy.
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However, Spain’s tactical discipline, attacking quality, and defensive resilience proved decisive as they ended Argentina’s reign as world champions.
Spain’s road to glory included impressive victories over some of the tournament’s strongest sides, underlining their dominance throughout the competition.
The triumph also marks the culmination of a remarkable resurgence led by a talented new generation of stars, who have restored Spain to the pinnacle of world football.
For Argentina, the defeat ends their hopes of retaining the World Cup crown, despite another spirited campaign that saw them reach a second consecutive final.
Spain’s victory cements their place among football’s elite once again, bringing the 2026 FIFA World Cup to a memorable conclusion.
England ended their FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign on a high after defeating France 6-4 in a pulsating third-place playoff at Miami Stadium on Saturday to secure the bronze medal.
Thomas Tuchel’s men produced an electric attacking display, storming into a commanding four-goal lead before France launched a spirited comeback.
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Declan Rice opened the scoring early, while Ezri Konsa doubled England’s advantage. Bukayo Saka then stole the show with a first-half brace as the Three Lions headed into the break with complete control of the contest.
France responded strongly after halftime, with captain Kylian Mbappé leading the charge by scoring twice.
Bradley Barcola also found the net to reduce the deficit and briefly raise hopes of an unlikely comeback for Les Bleus.
However, England had the final say as Saka completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot deep into stoppage time to seal a thrilling 5-3 victory and confirm England’s third-place finish at the tournament.
The victory marked a fitting response to England’s heartbreaking semi-final defeat to Argentina and secured the nation’s best World Cup finish since 1966.
France, meanwhile, ended the tournament in fourth place after suffering back-to-back defeats in the knockout stage.
Attention now shifts to Sunday’s World Cup final, where Spain will battle defending champions Argentina for football’s biggest prize.
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