Byline: IDNN Sports Desk
Nigerian sprint sensation Favour Ofili has confirmed she is switching allegiance to Turkey, marking another blow for Nigeria’s athletics programme.
In a statement on Instagram, the 21-year-old athlete reflected on her decision, citing years of neglect from the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) and the Nigerian Olympic Committee. She said repeated disappointments left her with little choice but to start afresh.
“Wrapping up my 2025 season has been a whirlwind of new experiences and big decisions. As some of you have heard, I’m starting a new chapter representing Turkey. I’m proud to have represented Nigeria for many years, but repeated disappointments forced me to rethink,” Ofili wrote.
She insisted the decision was not financially motivated, but rather born of frustration with poor treatment during international competitions, including the Tokyo and Paris Olympics.
The AFN president, Tonobok Okowa, confirmed Ofili’s departure during the National Athletics Championships in Lagos. He admitted that Nigeria’s poor funding has left the federation powerless to stop the exodus of elite athletes.
“The kind of money Turkey put on the table is not something many athletes would refuse. We are pleading with Nigeria as a nation to support us so we don’t keep losing our stars,” Okowa said.
Ofili, a multiple medalist and Olympic finalist, joins a growing list of Nigerian athletes who have changed nationality. Notable precedents include Francis Obikwelu, Gloria Alozie, and Femi Ogunode, all of whom went on to thrive internationally after leaving Nigeria.
She will sit out this year’s World Championships in Tokyo to complete the switch before officially donning Turkish colours in 2026.
Her departure, analysts warn, reflects systemic neglect of Nigerian athletes, with little investment in welfare, coaching, or long-term development.
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