Nigerian sprinter and 150m world record holder, Favour Ofili, has reportedly switched allegiance to Turkey, just three months before the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, PUNCH Online reports.
Ofili’s switch was first announced by Jamaica-based journalist Kayon Raynor.
“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 posted via X.
He added that Ofili cited missing the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games and the failure of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria and the Nigeria Olympic Committee to register her for the 100m event at the last games in Paris.
“Ofili stated that the Nigerian Athletics Federation caused her to miss the Tokyo 2020 Olympics after they did not confirm her number of doping control tests, and then missed competing in the 100m at the Paris Olympics after they did not enter her for the event. She was sixth in the 200m final.
“It’s further understood that Ofili impressed upon the AIU that her switch to Turkey was not for financial reasons.”
Meanwhile, the World Athletics still lists Ofili as a Nigerian athlete on its profile.
The 22-year-old is one of the Nigerian athletes who have qualified for the World Championships, which will be held from September 13 to 21 in Tokyo.
She made history at the Adidas Atlanta City Games in May by setting a new world record in the 150m, clocking 15.85s to break the previous mark of 16.23s held by Olympic champion Shaunae Miller-Uibo.
The Turkish athletics body has been shopping for athletes this year, including Jamaicans, and reportedly pay as much as $500,000 to foreign athletes to switch allegiance to the European country.
Following administrative lapses, Nigeria has a rich list of athletes like Francis Obikwelu (Portugal) Gloria Alozie (Spain), Florence Ekpo-Umoh (Germany), Salwa Eid Naser (Bahrain), Femi Ogunode (Qatar), amongst several others, who dumped the country for other nations and went on to excel in their careers internationally.
