By Joshua Tosin Ogunsakin 
World Athletics has approved the nationality switch of 400m sprinter Emmanuel Bamidele from Nigeria to the United Arab Emirates, paving the way for him to compete under a new flag.
The change was confirmed on the governing body’s official database, with the 26-year-old listed as eligible to represent the Gulf nation.
His first race under the UAE flag will be the men’s 400m invitational at the Brussels Diamond League finale, a non-points event, where he is set to face six Belgian runners and Jamaica’s Antonio Watson on Friday.
Bamidele’s career has often been marked by controversy and abrupt shifts. In 2018, just weeks after storming to victory at the Nigerian Commonwealth Games trials in Abuja with a then-personal best of 45.28s, he disappeared from the national camp ahead of the Gold Coast Games.
He later resurfaced in Qatar, and by May 2019 he was competing in Doha under the Qatari flag, finishing second in the Diamond League 400m at the Khalifa International Stadium.
After his stint with Qatar, Bamidele returned to the US collegiate system, where he raced for Texas A&M in 2022 and later for the University of Florida.
He established himself as one of the NCAA’s leading quarter-milers, winning the 2023 NCAA Outdoor Championships in Texas, with a lifetime best of 44.24s. That season also saw him take second place at the Diamond League in Stockholm, competing once again as a Nigerian.
His recent form, however, has fluctuated. In 2024 he finished fifth at the Diamond League meet in Rabat with a time of 44.88s, while in August 2025 he ran 45.36s at the P-T-S Meeting in Slovakia. With the inconsistency, he is ranked 71st globally in the men’s 400m.
Since breaking onto the scene as a teenager in 2015, Bamidele’s times have shown steady progression, from 49.32s at an Abuja All Comers meet that year to consistent sub-45s across recent seasons.
His switch to the UAE marks the third chapter of his international career, having already competed under both Nigeria and Qatar flag.
Barely three months after sprint sensation Favour Ofili switched allegiance to Turkey, another high-profile change has once again highlighted Nigeria’s growing struggle to hold on to its finest athletic talents.
The trend underscores a troubling exodus that continues to strip Nigeria of its competitive edge, as officials struggle to prevent more defections of athletes in their prime.