Former President of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria, Solomon Ogba, has applauded World Athletics for rejecting Favour Ofili’s request to switch allegiance to Turkey, describing the decision as a major win for Nigeria and other developing nations.
Reacting to the ruling by the World Athletics Review Panel, Ogba did not hide his satisfaction.
“It’s a victory for Nigeria,” he said.
According to him, the decision sends a strong message against the growing trend of wealthier countries recruiting athletes who were developed elsewhere.
“It’s unfair,” he implied.
Ogba argued that nations like Nigeria invest significant time, effort, and resources into discovering and nurturing talents, only for those athletes to be lured away when they reach elite levels.
“We do the work, others reap the rewards,” he noted.
For the former AFN boss, such practices undermine the development of sports in less financially powerful countries, creating an imbalance in global competition.
“It discourages investment,” he stressed.
He praised World Athletics for taking a firm stance, suggesting that the decision will help protect the interests of developing nations and encourage them to continue building their sports programs.
“This is important for the future,” he added.
Ogba also questioned the ethics behind aggressive recruitment strategies, insisting that international sport should be built on fairness and respect.
“There must be limits,” he emphasized.
As the debate over athlete allegiance continues, the ruling is likely to have far-reaching implications for how countries approach talent development and recruitment.
For Ogba, the message is clear.
Protect your investment.
Protect your athletes.
Because in sport, fairness matters just as much as performance.
