Nigerian athletics followers have voiced strong support for Favour Ofili, the women’s 150m world record holder, amid reports of her decision to represent Turkey on the international stage.
News of Ofili’s alleged nationality switch broke on Sunday through Jamaican journalist Kayon Raynor, who revealed that the sprinter had officially aligned with Turkey 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,” Raynor wrote on X.
He further noted that her decision was rooted in her dissatisfaction with the Athletics Federation of Nigeria and the Nigeria Olympic Committee, especially after missing the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and being left out of the 100m event at the recent Paris Games.
“The switch was not financially motivated,” Raynor clarified.
Reacting to the development, AFN President Tonobok Okowa, who recently secured a second term in office, expressed disappointment.
“If this is true, it is sad, disheartening and painful but we are yet to get any official statement from her or any correspondence from World Athletics, on her request. She is a promising athlete with huge potential,” Okowa said in a statement.
“From the moves we have been making to get her fully prepared and back to the big athletics family and her response, it’s also clear that she had been preparing and working on her new found Turkish love. She is old enough to decide what’s best for her but it is painful and hard to take for us, however, we will not stop her, she is still our child, sister and daughter.
“We want to apologise to Nigerians, the National Sports Commission and the millions of people around the world who hold the sport and country in high esteem for this sad development.”
Despite the backlash from athletics officials, Ofili has received overwhelming support from the public, many of whom sympathize with her struggles in the Nigerian system.
On Facebook, Bruce Benson wrote, “Congratulations. Nigeria doesn’t deserve you. Turkey will give you more benefits.”
Another supporter, Nneka Maj Oliver, commented, “Best decision. Congratulations darling. I wish Tobi express and the rest of them can switch as well.”
Sports journalist, Solace Chukwu, also pointed to systemic failures as the reason behind Ofili’s decision.
“If we are keeping it a buck, Nigeria produces no athletes in the proper sense. We all should know this. Let’s avoid disingenuous, hair-splitting arguments. Pleased for Favour Ofili. If you are a fan of hers, you will be too, and enjoy her success whether in green or red.”
Amid fresh leadership in the AFN following its just-concluded election, which returned Okowa as president, some Nigerians are calling for a complete overhaul of the body.
“When missing two Olympics due to incompetence of the AFN, then it’s the right thing to do if you’re not appreciated in a place. All the board of the AFN must be changed completely and replaced with sports personalities and not politicians,” David Balogun suggested.
As of now, World Athletics still identifies Ofili as a Nigerian athlete on its database. She remains eligible to compete at the upcoming World Championships in Tokyo from September 13 to 21.
Ofili is not the first Nigerian athlete to consider a change in allegiance. Countries like Portugal, Spain, Germany, Bahrain, and Qatar have previously benefited from Nigeria’s administrative lapses, acquiring talents such as Francis Obikwelu, Gloria Alozie, Florence Ekpo-Umoh, Salwa Eid Naser, and Femi Ogunode.
Turkey, reportedly offering incentives up to $500,000 for international athletes to switch nationalities, has been aggressively recruiting talent in recent months, including athletes from Jamaica.