Nigeria’s sprint prodigy, Favour Ofili, showcased her blistering speed in emphatic fashion at the ATX Sprint Classic in Texas, United States,blazing to a remarkable 10.78s (+3.1m/s wind) in the women’s 100m final.
The LSU alumna left some of the sport’s top names trailing, including American Olympic medalist Gabby Thomas (10.95s) and Kayla White (10.97s), who settled for second and third, respectively.
In a stacked lineup, fellow Nigerian sprinter Rosemary Chukwuma also featured, clocking an impressive 10.98s to place fifth.
Earlier in the heats, Ofili had already hinted at something special, clocking a new personal best of 10.87s, an eye-catching time that made waves on its own, regardless of the wind-aided final.
Allegiance Rumours Cloud Ofili’s Electric Form
Even as Ofili continues to turn heads with her performances, talk of her alleged intention to switch allegiance to Turkey has stirred significant attention off the track.
Reports emerged that the 22-year-old had submitted documentation to the Athletics Integrity Unit as part of a formal process to change her sporting nationality. So far, there’s been no official confirmation from Nigerian sports authorities regarding the status of her application.
This development follows a growing trend of Nigerian-born athletes opting to compete for other nations, often citing frustration with local sports administration.
Ofili’s apparent decision is believed to stem from repeated disappointments tied to administrative lapses. Notably, during the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, she was left out of the women’s 100m event, despite meeting the qualifying standard, due to the Athletics Federation of Nigeria and the Nigerian Olympic Committee’s failure to submit her entry.
The incident echoed a similar mistake that denied her a place in the Tokyo 2020 Games.
Still, the National Sports Commission maintains that no formal notice has been received from the sprinter.
Speaking to reporters, NSC Director-General Bukola Olopade affirmed that Ofili remains a Nigerian athlete at present.
“The commission provides annual grants of 20,000 U.S. dollars to athletes on Category A of the Elite Programme, aiming to enhance Nigeria’s performance in international sports,” Olopade said, referring to the NSC’s Elite Athletes Programme,, which supports elite-level competitors preparing for global tournaments.
Regardless of her next steps, Ofili’s performance in Texas has firmly cemented her as one of the premier sprinters in the world today.
And as the Paris Olympic season reaches its climax, one thing is crystal clear, Favour Ofili is sprinting like someone with something to prove.