Favour Ofili Blames Nigerian Athletics Bodies for Olympic Setbacks, Switches Allegiance to Turkey

World 150m record-holder Favour Ofili has cited negligence by the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) and the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) at the Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 Olympics as a key factor in her decision to switch national allegiance to Turkey, Sport360NG reports.

The 22-year-old’s move was confirmed on Monday, nearly three months after initial rumours surfaced. Her announcement came a day after the AFN unveiled Nigeria’s team for the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo.

“Wrapping up my 2025 season has been a whirlwind of new experiences and big decisions,” Ofili wrote on Instagram. “Racing back-to-back across amazing cities and learning from the best has been incredible. As some of you know, I’m beginning a new chapter representing Turkey. I am proud to have represented Nigeria, winning six golds, two silvers, and two bronzes in championship meets, and reaching the Olympic 200m final. Yet, I also experienced major disappointments due to the negligence of AFN and NOC at both the Tokyo and Paris Olympics.”

She added that her decision was heartfelt and not financially motivated, acknowledging the support of her coach, agent, Adidas, and family. “While this means I will sit out this year’s championships in Tokyo, I’m grateful to have found a new home in Turkey and look forward to what lies ahead,” she said.

Ofili was among ten Nigerian athletes barred from the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 for missing mandatory competition tests. Her challenges continued in Paris, where administrative oversights prevented her registration for the women’s 100m.

Turkey has been actively recruiting foreign athletes, reportedly offering as much as $500,000 for elite talents, including Jamaicans, to switch allegiance. Nigeria, due to recurring administrative lapses, has seen numerous athletes transfer to other countries and achieve international success, including Francis Obikwelu (Portugal), Gloria Alozie (Spain), Florence Ekpo-Umoh (Germany), Salwa Eid Naser (Bahrain), and Femi Ogunode (Qatar).

Individually, Ofili has had a stellar season. She made her Diamond League debut and set a new world record in the 150m at the Adidas Atlanta City Games in May, clocking 15.85 seconds to surpass the previous mark of 16.23 seconds held by Olympic champion Shaunae Miller-Uibo.