Olympic sprinter Favour Ofili has confirmed her decision to switch sporting allegiance from Nigeria to Turkey, citing years of administrative negligence by the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) and the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) that she says cost her the chance to compete at two Olympic Games.
In a statement posted on Instagram on Monday, the 22-year-old LSU Tigers star said: I am proud to have represented Nigeria for many years in a highly successful way. Having won six gold medals, two silver and two bronze at championship meets, and experiencing the biggest disappointment from AFN and NOC for their negligence towards me in two Olympics (Tokyo and Paris), I have made this decision. I’m starting a new chapter representing Turkey.”
Ofili, who reached the 200m final at the Paris 2024 Olympics, insisted her decision was not financially motivated despite reports that Turkey offered her $500,000. “This change comes from my heart, not from financial motives,” she stressed.
AFN President Tonobok Okowa confirmed the switch to , saying both World Athletics and the athlete had formally communicated the decision. However, he rejected Ofili’s claims of negligence, insisting her switch was financially driven.
“This is all about money. Herself and her coach are trying to make some money,” Okowa said. “She’s an adult and has the right to make her decision, but she should stop using these excuses.”
He also denied AFN’s role in the Tokyo 2021 debacle, where Ofili and other athletes were barred from competing due to incomplete out-of-competition drug tests.
“An athlete is supposed to fill her whereabouts. Unfortunately, she did not complete her three tests, and that was why she and some others were not allowed to compete,” Okowa explained.
On her exclusion from the 100m race in Paris, Okowa claimed Ofili’s name was submitted but may have been dropped during the registration process. He further argued that other Nigerian sprinters, Tima Godbless and Rosemary Chukwuma, had better qualifying times.
Despite her announcement, World Athletics still lists Ofili as representing Nigeria. The governing body has acknowledged receiving transfer requests from Turkey but has yet to officially approve her switch.
Under current rules, athletes must wait three years after their last appearance for one nation before competing for another, unless granted a waiver for exceptional circumstances such as administrative errors—the kind Ofili cites.
For now, Ofili confirmed she will sit out the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo while awaiting clearance. “While that means missing this year’s championships, I’m grateful to have discovered a new home in Turkey,” she said.
