JUST IN : Favour Ofili reportedly transfers allegiance to Turkey ahead of athletics championships

Nigerian sprint sensation and current 150m world record holder, Favour Ofili, is reported to have transferred her allegiance to Turkey, just three months before the start of the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo.

The news was first disclosed by Jamaican journalist Kayon Raynor on social media platform X.

“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.

He further explained that Ofili’s decision stemmed from past disappointments involving Nigeria’s athletics administrators, particularly around Olympic Games participation.

“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.”
Efforts to get confirmation from Ofili or the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) have so far been unsuccessful. As of the time of filing this report, both parties had yet to respond to inquiries.

Meanwhile, the World Athletics website continues to list Ofili under Nigeria’s banner.

Ofili, 22, is among the athletes who have already qualified for the upcoming World Championships, scheduled for September 13 to 21 in Tokyo. She recently etched her name into the record books by clocking 15.85 seconds in the 150m at the Adidas Atlanta City Games in May—surpassing the previous world best of 16.23s set by Shaunae Miller-Uibo.

Reports suggest that Turkey’s athletics federation has been actively recruiting elite foreign athletes this year, including talent from Jamaica, with offers reportedly reaching as much as $500,000 to encourage nationality changes.

Nigeria has previously lost top-tier athletes to other nations, often due to administrative missteps. Notable examples include Francis Obikwelu (Portugal), Gloria Alozie (Spain), Florence Ekpo-Umoh (Germany), Salwa Eid Naser (Bahrain), and Femi Ogunode (Qatar), who went on to flourish on the global stage representing their adopted countries.