Ex-AFN President Reveals Why Nigerian Athletes Are Leaving The Country

Ex-AFN President Reveals Why Nigerian Athletes Are Leaving The Country

Sampson Adedeji

Former President of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), Dan Ngerem, has attributed the growing trend of Nigerian athletes switching national allegiance to poor welfare and mismanagement, BSNSports.com.ng reports.

Reacting to reports of sprinter Favour Ofili’s potential switch to Turkey, Ngerem, in an interview with M4S TV, said Nigeria’s failure to support athletes beyond the grassroots level is driving many to seek better opportunities abroad.

“It’s extremely difficult to train an athlete to elite level. We often start from primary school, and Nigeria actually invests significantly in these athletes,” Ngerem said. “But the problem is, we don’t manage them well. Most of the funding is channeled into competitions, often in a haphazard manner.”

He stressed that while early-stage development exists, the system breaks down when it comes to sustained support for elite athletes.

“There’s a major disconnect between when we develop athletes and when they’re supposed to mature and deliver results for the country,” he added. “At that crucial stage, there’s little to no financial or structural backing for their welfare and career growth.”

Ngerem called for a more strategic, long-term approach to athlete development, one that prioritizes continuous support rather than one-off investments.