Nigerian sprint sensation Favour Ofili has officially begun the process of switching her national allegiance to Turkey, following what she describes as years of neglect and administrative incompetence by the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) and the Nigerian Olympic Committee (NOC).
This decision comes in the wake of yet another Olympic heartbreak for Ofili. Despite qualifying for the women’s 100m event at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, she was controversially left out due to the failure of Nigerian athletics officials to submit her entry. The incident mirrors her Tokyo 2020 (held in 2021) experience, where she was one of 13 Nigerian athletes disqualified for not meeting anti-doping testing requirements—a failure pinned squarely on the AFN.
Sources reveal that Ofili began the nationality switch on May 31, 2025, notifying the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) of her frustration and disappointment. She stressed that her decision was not about money, but about a pattern of consistent mismanagement and disregard for athletes’ welfare.
The situation is further worsened by the re-election of the same AFN leadership in June 2025—despite repeated scandals and criticisms. For Ofili, this seemed to be the final straw.
Known for her blazing speed and immense potential, Ofili holds personal bests of 10.93 seconds in the 100m and 21.96 seconds in the 200m. She recently proved her world-class status by placing 6th in the 200m final at the Paris Olympics.
Her departure marks a major loss for Nigerian athletics and raises serious questions about the future of sports governance in the country.
