Favour Ofili
PicNews
Nigerian sprint sensation Favour Ofili has officially confirmed her switch of allegiance to Turkey, citing years of frustration with the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) and the Nigerian Olympic Committee (NOC). The 22-year-old athlete revealed her decision in a social media post, stating that the change was born out of heartbreak and negligence she suffered at two Olympic Games.
Ofili’s ordeal began at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, where she was one of 10 Nigerian athletes disqualified after the AFN failed to conduct the required number of out-of-competition anti-doping tests. The nightmare repeated itself at the Paris 2024 Olympics, where despite meeting the qualification standard, she was omitted from the women’s 100m start list due to an administrative blunder by both the AFN and NOC.
A government investigation indicted top AFN officials for negligence and recommended that Ofili be compensated with ₦8 million for the psychological damage caused by the omission. However, this compensation was not implemented, further contributing to her decision to switch allegiance.
Ofili emphasized that her decision to represent Turkey was not financially motivated but rather a heartfelt choice to find peace and a supportive environment. She expressed gratitude for the support she received from her coach, agent, sponsor, and loved ones during this challenging time.
The Athletics Federation of Nigeria has expressed concern over Ofili’s switch, stating that it is taking urgent steps to address underlying issues affecting athlete welfare and retention. The Federation hinted at the possibility of reaching out to Ofili to understand her decision and explore avenues for reconciliation.
Ofili’s switch highlights the challenges faced by Nigerian athletes due to administrative lapses and lack of support, leading to a growing trend of athletes seeking better opportunities abroad. Other notable Nigerian athletes who have switched allegiance include:
– *Francis Obikwelu*, who represented Portugal and won a silver medal at the Olympic Games and World Championships
– *Gloria Alozie*, who switched to Spain
– *Salwa Eid Naser*, who represents Bahrain and has won multiple international medals
– *Annette Echikunwoke*, who switched to the United States and won an Olympic silver medal
– *Karim Adeyemi*, a German professional footballer born to a Nigerian father, who represents Germany internationally
As a result of her switch, Ofili will sit out the upcoming World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, as rules require her to complete the nationality switch process before competing for Turkey .
