Nigerian sprint sensation Favour Ofili, the 150 m world record holder, has officially switched her sporting allegiance from Nigeria to Turkey, effective May 31, 2025. The move, confirmed by Jamaican sports journalist Kayon Raynor, comes amid mounting frustration with Nigeria’s athletics administration.
272-1According to Raynor, Ofili formally notified the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU), voicing deep concerns over repeated administrative missteps by both the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) and the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC). She cited two glaring instances: being barred from doping control for the Tokyo 2020 Games and being left out of the 100 m entry list for the Paris 2024 Olympics.
These rejects pushed the 22‑year‑old to the brink, saying the switch was not prompted by financial gain. However, reports suggest a lucrative Turkish Sports Ministry offer — possibly in the region of $500,000 — helped seal her decision to represent Turkey. Ofili’s management maintains that she prioritised respect and administrative fairness over pay, although the new deal comes with significant compensation.
Still officially listed under Nigeria by World Athletics, Ofili is poised for her Turkish debut at the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo, scheduled for September 13–21.This departure adds to a growing list of Nigerian track stars who have defected, citing similar grievances—from procedural failures to funding problems—with other prominent cases including Francis Obikwelu and Salwa Eid Naser .
In her stride, Ofili’s career has been stellar: a 150 m world record in May (15.85 s), a sixth‑place 200 m Olympic finish in Paris, and personal bests of 10.93 s (100 m) and 21.96 s (200 m). Now, proudly embracing the Turkish colours, she heads into Tokyo with fresh motivation—this time, backed by a system that values her talent.
