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Favour Ofili Set to Represent Turkey

Favour Ofili has switched allegiance to Turkey, shocking fans and officials.

The move highlights ongoing frustrations with Nigeria’s athletics leadership.

Nigerian sprint sensation Favour Ofili has reportedly switched her sporting nationality to Turkey, in a move that has sparked mixed reactions and drawn attention to lingering issues within Nigeria’s athletics administration. The 22-year-old sprinter, widely regarded as one of Nigeria’s brightest prospects, informed the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) of her decision, effective May 31, 2025.

The development, confirmed by Jamaican journalist Kayon Raynor, has left many stunned, especially given Ofili’s recent appearance for Team Nigeria at the Paris 2024 Olympics, where she reached the final of the 200m event and finished sixth. Despite this achievement, tensions between Ofili and the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) had been simmering for years.

At the heart of the fallout was Ofili’s painful omission from the 100m event at the Paris Games, where she was not entered despite meeting qualification standards. The athlete took to Instagram to express her heartbreak:

“It is with great regret that I have just been told I will not be competing in the 100 meters at these Olympic Games. I qualified, but those with the AFN and NOC failed to enter my name. I have worked for 4 years to earn this opportunity.”

This wasn’t the first time Ofili felt let down by the system. She also missed out on competing at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics due to Nigeria’s doping test failures, a result of administrative lapses that saw multiple athletes barred for not meeting minimum testing requirements.

Although reports circulated that Ofili would earn over $500,000 in incentives, bonuses, and stipends after her switch, she has insisted her decision was not financially motivated. However, Turkey has been known to offer up to $30,000 monthly stipends and medal bonuses nearing $1 million to high-profile athletes who switch allegiance.

In response, AFN President Tonobok Okowa acknowledged the reports but clarified that the federation had not received any official communication from either Ofili or World Athletics. “If this is true, it is sad, disheartening, and painful,” he said. “She is a promising athlete with huge potential.”

Okowa emphasized that the issues surrounding the Tokyo Olympics occurred under the previous administration, not his. He stated that the current board had funded over 60% of the required doping tests for Paris 2024 and provided financial support to athletes. Nonetheless, attempts to mend relations with Ofili reportedly failed.

“She seems to have moved on and is preparing for her new path with Turkey,” he admitted. Despite the heartbreak, Okowa noted that the AFN would not obstruct her decision. “She is old enough to decide what’s best for her. She is still our child, our sister, and our daughter,” he added.

Meanwhile, under World Athletics rules, Ofili’s switch may not take immediate effect. Athletes who change sporting nationalities must typically observe a three-year waiting period, unless granted an exemption under “exceptional circumstances” such as mismanagement or athlete welfare issues. That means Ofili may be ineligible to represent Turkey in international competition until 2028 unless her case is fast-tracked.

Further complicating matters, the newly formed Nigerian Sports Commission, led by Shehu Dikko, recently completed an investigation into the Paris Olympics episode. The commission found the AFN guilty of negligence and ordered the federation to pay Ofili ₦8 million (about $5,000) in compensation. Top officials, including Secretary General Rita Mosindi and Technical Director Samuel Onikeku face disciplinary action.

As of now, Ofili remains listed as a Nigerian athlete on the World Athletics website. However, her sights appear firmly set on a new chapter with Turkey, adding her name to the growing list of elite Nigerian athletes opting to compete for other nations amid frustrations over systemic failures.

Osemekemen

Ilumah Osemekemen is Editor at Newskobo.com. A Business Administration graduate, he produces researched content on business, tech, sports and education, delivering practical… More »

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