Nigerian sprinter, Favour Onyah, has hinted that she may end her international career with Team Nigeria after being left out of the athletics squad for the 2026 Commonwealth Games despite earning qualification at the National Athletics Trials, The Punch reports.
Onyah was one of 15 athletes invited to the national camp in Abuja, which opened on June 25 after the trials in Lagos.
The 19-year-old claimed the women’s 400m national title in emphatic fashion, crossing the finish line in 52.68 seconds.
She was also named in Nigeria’s women’s 4x400m relay squad alongside Patience Okon-George, Ella Onojuvwevwo and Esther Joseph.
After the Abuja training camp, the athletics team travelled with the rest of Team Nigeria to Aberdeen, Scotland, for the final phase of preparations at the Aberdeen Sports Village ahead of the Games.
However, Onyah did not progress beyond the initial camp in Abuja and has since returned to her training base in the United States.
The sprinter voiced her disappointment in a TikTok post, indicating that a series of setbacks had pushed her to the point of reconsidering her future with the national team.
“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.”
Earlier this year, Onyah represented Nigeria at the African Senior Athletics Championships in Ghana as part of the women’s 4x400m relay team.
She also enjoyed a remarkable outing at the 2025 CAA U-20 African Athletics Championships in Abeokuta, Ogun State, where she emerged as a three-time gold medallist.
Onyah won the women’s 400m event in 52.47 seconds, finishing comfortably ahead of the silver medallist before anchoring Nigeria’s women’s 4x400m relay team to victory in 3:37.02, with the team finishing seven seconds ahead of their closest challengers.
She completed her golden campaign by leading Nigeria to another triumph in the mixed 4x400m relay, once again running the anchor leg as the country swept both relay titles.
Her omission comes amid wider concerns over the Commonwealth Games selection process, with several athletes who impressed at the National Athletics Trials in Lagos also expressing dissatisfaction after failing to make the final squad.
Former Nigerian sprinter and athletics coach Deji Aliu criticised the Athletics Federation of Nigeria, accusing the body of failing to apply consistent selection standards.
“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.
“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.”
