150m world record holder Favour Ofili has reportedly switched her international allegiance to Turkey, just three months before the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo.
The 22-year-old sprinter, long regarded as one of Nigeria’s brightest medal hopes, is said to have grown frustrated with repeated administrative failings on the part of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) and the Nigerian Olympic Committee (NOC).
The news was first broken by Jamaican journalist Kayon Raynor, who revealed via X (formerly Twitter) that Ofili formally notified the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) of her decision as of May 31, 2025.
“Nigerian sprinter Favour Ofili has switched allegiance to Turkey as of May 31, 2025. According to impeccable TVJ News Centre sources, 22-year-old Ofili has advised the Athletics Integrity Unit of her frustration with the Nigerian Athletics Federation”.
Kayon Raynor
Raynor further stated that Ofili’s decision was rooted in long-standing dissatisfaction with how the AFN handled her Olympic aspirations. Ofili, who had been expected to make her Olympic debut in Tokyo 2020, was ruled ineligible due to a failure by the AFN to meet anti-doping testing requirements. The error affected 13 Nigerian athletes in total.
According to sources close to the matter, Ofili made it clear to the AIU that her decision was purely based on the systemic frustrations she had endured over multiple Olympic cycles.
While many have expressed disappointment over the development, others have rallied behind the sprinter, empathizing with her frustrations and supporting her right to pursue her career under more supportive conditions.
President of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria, Tonobok Okowa, responded to the news with surprise but maintained that the federation would not oppose Ofili’s decision if she wished to represent another country.
“I was shocked by the reports, but we are yet to receive official correspondence from World Athletics. If she wants to leave, we cannot stop her,” Okowa said.
A Pattern
Ofili’s switch adds to a growing list of Nigerian athletes who have opted to compete for other nations due to either lack of support or administrative dysfunction.
In the past decade, Nigeria has lost several top-tier talents to countries such as Bahrain, Qatar, and the United States.
Ofili, a multiple-time NCAA champion and collegiate standout from Louisiana State University (LSU), has consistently demonstrated world-class talent on the track.
Her move to Turkey could prove beneficial for her career, especially with the stability and resources often afforded to elite athletes in countries with stronger sports management structures.
If cleared by World Athletics, Ofili could represent Turkey at the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo, where she would likely line up as one of the medal contenders in the 100m and 200m events.
The switch also raises fresh questions about the ability of the AFN and NOC to manage elite talent and protect athletes’ Olympic ambitions.
For now, Nigerian athletics fans must confront the painful reality of seeing one of their brightest stars take her talents elsewhere; a decision that appears less about personal gain and more about professional survival.
READ ALSO: Regressive Culture Fueling Religious Discrimination in Schools
