Onyali: No Big Deal About Athletes Switching Allegiance

Former African sprint queen and Olympic medalist Mary Onyali has downplayed concerns over the growing trend of athletes switching allegiance to other countries, insisting that the issue is not unique to Nigeria.

Sprinters Favour Ofili and Favour Ashe are the two high profile athletes who have switched allegiance in the last one year while over 30 of relatively unknown athletes have also done so.

Speaking at the unveiling ceremony of the fourth edition of MTN Champs in Lagos, where MTN reaffirmed its long-term partnership with Making of Champions (MoC) through to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, Onyali stressed that discovering athletes is only the beginning of the journey.

She noted that nurturing them and ensuring they reach the world stage is where Nigeria must improve.

‘Discovering athletes is one, nurturing them is another and taking them to the world stage is where the matter lies. Nobody can do anything in regard to athletes’ defection.

‘Nigeria is not the only country losing athletes; it’s a matter of interest. Other nations approached me when I was competing, but I refused to leave my country,’ Onyali was quoted in The Guardian as saying.

She explained that poor welfare and lack of support often push athletes to seek opportunities abroad, adding that the National Sports Commission’s elite podium board was created to correct such abnormalities.

Onyali also called for more corporate sponsorship to sustain grassroots athletics development.

‘We need more sponsors; MTN and MoC alone cannot get this done. After discovery, we must think of how to help them in the area of scholarship, mentorship and getting them to the podium,’ she said.