Nigerian sprinter and 150m world record holder, Favour Ofili, has reportedly switched her sporting allegiance to Turkey.
Ofili’s reported switch is coming just months before the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo.
Jamaica-based journalist Kayon Raynor, citing sources from TVJ News Centre,
revealed this on his X account on Saturday.
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According to Raynor, the switch took effect on May 31, 2025, and was formally communicated to the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) due to what he described as persistent frustrations with the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN).
“Ofili has advised the Athletics Integrity Unit of her frustration with the Nigerian Athletics Federation,” Raynor posted.
He stated that the sprinter had “embraced Turkish citizenship” after being repeatedly sidelined by Nigerian sports authorities.
The 22-year-old reportedly cited her exclusion from the 100m event at the Paris 2024 Olympic games and her absence from the delayed Tokyo 2020 Olympics due to administrative lapses as main reasons for the decision.
“She stated that the Nigerian Athletics Federation caused her to miss the Tokyo 2020 Olympics after they did not confirm her number of doping control tests.
“She then missed competing in the 100m at the Paris Olympics after they did not enter her for the event. She was sixth in the 200m final.”
In the past Nigeria has witnessed a spate of high-profile defections to other country.
Among Top athletes who switched allegiance from Nigeria are Francis Obikwelu (Portugal), Gloria Alozie (Spain), and Femi Ogunode (Qatar).
Meanwhile, there is no response from AFN concerning Ofili’s reported switch to Turkey.
5 Comments
Another gem lost. I pity this country
I like to think I’m a patriotic Nigerian, but I celebrate this news. Let others mistreated like her please follow suit.
Since the world-class incompetence and rotten corruption of the AFN has been left to fester, this is cold vengeance to them and the sports ministry. Very good news.
Congratulations girls.
Good! Nigeria is a dream killer. After working hard and clocking 10.78s only to be left out for ppl with mid 11s in the name of admin lapses. The corruption eh!
People here celebrating this decision but here everyday begging for players to switch allegiance to play for nigeria. And I always ask convince the player why the person should play for nigeria. Its crickets. Begging for tosin to play for nigeria and insulting him, but showing support for ofili.
But this is a smart move. More like this should happen. I remember Annette Echikunwoke who was born in the us but represented nigeria in 2020 olympics but after that fiasco where players were failed to be registered she changed to represent us in the 2024 olympics and actually won a medal. Represent nigeria if you want to constantly be embarrassed.
Why does this sound like good news…..LMAOoo