By Our Reporter 22-6-2025
Sprinter Favour Ofili has made up her mind to leave Nigerian athletics and starting from the Olympics 2028, she would be eligible to be represent Turkey.
According to reports Ofili, a former distinguished junior athlete has filed an
application to switch allegiance to Turkey as of May 31, 2025, notifying the
Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) of her intentions.
Ofili listed that she has been frustrated in her athletics career by the Athletics Federation of Nigeria, recalling her disqualification along side 12 other athletes from the Tokyo 2020 Olympics due to Nigeria’s non compliance with doping regulations. She also complained about her omission from the women’s 100m event at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
Athletics Federation of Nigeria officials are mute on the matter, but it is like they will not oppose Ofili’s wish to change her colours.
Despite their own inadequacies, athletics officials view Ofili as a problematic athlete hard to deal and would be glad to see her back.
There are several occasions she shunned to the national trials and even when she came, selected the event she prefer to compete.
In the 2024 African Championships in Cameroon she refused to compete in the 100m after running in the heats, claiming that the organisers did not provide the right atmosphere for competition.
“No doubt Ofili is one of best our athletes in recent times but she is difficult to deal with,” said an official.
“The AFN has its issues, but some other top athletes are still thriving within the system. We wish her well in whatever she is doing and wherever she is going.”
Ofili, 22, holds the national 200m women’s record with 21.96secs and personal best of 10.78secs, performances she did in 2022.
She is not the first high profile Nigerian athlete that would jump ships. Francis Obikwelu and Glory Alozie put down their Nigeria jerseys and picked up those of Portugal and Spain respectively in the prime of their careers.