Nigerian sprinter Favour Ofili has confirmed she is switching allegiance to Turkey, ending her long-running feud with the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN).
Announcing the decision on Instagram on Monday, Ofili said the move followed months of reflection after a turbulent period in which she felt repeatedly let down by the Nigerian federation.
“Wrapping up my 2025 season has been a whirlwind of new experiences and big decisions. As some of you have heard, I’m also starting a new chapter representing Turkey,” she wrote.
Ofili expressed pride in her achievements in Nigerian colours, which include six gold medals, two silvers, two bronzes at championship meets, and a place in the Olympic 200m final. But she pointed to neglect from the AFN and the Nigerian Olympic Committee during the Tokyo and Paris Games as major factors in her choice.
She stressed that the decision was not financially driven: “While that means sitting out this year’s championships in Tokyo, this change comes from the heart, not from financial motives. I’m truly grateful to have discovered a new home in Turkey, and I’m excited for what’s ahead.”
AFN president Tonobok Okowa, speaking during the National Athletics Championships in Lagos, confirmed Ofili’s switch and warned that more athletes could follow without urgent financial support. “The kind of money they put on the table to get her is not something many athletes would refuse,” he admitted, urging government backing to stem the exodus.
Ofili’s decision follows in the footsteps of other Nigerian athletes who changed allegiance, including Francis Obikwelu, Gloria Alozie, and Femi Ogunode.
She will sit out the upcoming World Athletics Championships in Tokyo as she completes the formal process, before beginning the next phase of her career in Turkish colours.
