Nigerian sprint sensation and 150m world record holder Favour Ofili has reportedly switched national allegiance to Turkey just months before the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo.
According to Jamaica-based sports journalist Kayon Raynor, Ofili’s switch became official on May 31, 2025, after she expressed her frustration with the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) to the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU). Ofili cited a series of administrative lapses by Nigerian sporting authorities that led to missed opportunities at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and the Paris 2024 Games, including her omission from the 100m event despite qualifying.
Raynor revealed on X:
“Ofili stated that the Nigerian Athletics Federation caused her to miss the Tokyo 2020 Olympics after they did not confirm her doping control tests, and then missed competing in the 100m at the Paris Olympics after they did not enter her for the event.”
Sources close to the athlete claim the move was driven by professional frustration, not financial incentives. However, reports suggest the Turkish Athletics Federation has been actively recruiting international talent, with offers reportedly as high as $500,000.
World Athletics has yet to update Ofili’s official profile, which still lists her as a Nigerian athlete. Meanwhile, neither Ofili nor the AFN has publicly commented on the development as of press time.
The 22-year-old sprinter made history last month at the Adidas Atlanta City Games, smashing the world record in the rarely run 150m event with a time of 15.85 seconds, surpassing Shaunae Miller-Uibo’s previous mark of 16.23 seconds.
Ofili joins a growing list of Nigerian athletes who have switched allegiance due to administrative shortcomings, including Francis Obikwelu (Portugal), Gloria Alozie (Spain), and Salwa Eid Naser (Bahrain).
