Favour Ofili, one of Nigeria’s brightest athletics prospects, has reportedly switched international allegiance to Turkey, following months of discontent with the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN).
The 22-year-old sprinter, who competes in the 100m, 200m, and relay events, was notably absent from the 100m start list at the Paris 2024 Olympics, despite meeting the qualification standard.
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Ofili, a former Louisiana State University (LSU) standout and Adidas-sponsored athlete, expressed frustration over the administrative oversight that cost her the chance to compete in one of her signature events.
On August 2, 2024, Ofili took to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to criticize the AFN’s failure, questioning whether the global governing body, World Athletics, should hold national federations accountable when athletes are denied rightful opportunities.
“Who assigns federations and/or Olympic committees to enter athletes into Olympic Games? Is it World Athletics? If so, should they not hold them accountable when they fail to do their job by not entering athletes in events they qualify and want to compete in?” she wrote.
Ofili went on to compete in the 200m at the Paris Games, finishing sixth in the final — a disappointing result for a sprinter with podium aspirations.
According to reports from Television Jamaica/Radio Jamaica Newscentre, Ofili completed her switch to represent Turkey as of May 31, 2025.
Though some recent allegiance switches to Turkey by Caribbean athletes have been linked to financial incentives — such as Jamaican Olympians Rajindra Campbell and Roje Stona, who reportedly received $500,000 signing bonuses and monthly stipends — sources close to Ofili suggest her move was driven by frustration rather than financial gain.
The sprinter joins a growing list of international athletes, including Emre Zafer Barnes and Jak Ali Harvey, who have previously donned Turkish colors after switching allegiance.
A former NCAA 200m record holder and World U20 Championships medalist, Ofili had long been touted as a potential Olympic medalist for Nigeria. Her omission from the 100m event in Paris appeared to have been a tipping point in a difficult Olympic campaign.
In a reflective Instagram post after the Games, Ofili described the emotional toll of the experience:
“Competing in the Olympics has been the dream of a lifetime. The outcome wasn’t what I hoped for, having to fight with myself every day to be strong mentally, even when my body and health were at stake. It’s easy to feel defeated, but every setback is a setup for a comeback. I’m proud of myself, and I’m grateful for the support from my coach, family, and fans.”
Ofili has since bounced back on the track, claiming a bronze medal in her first appearance on the 2025 Grand Slam Track series in Miami, finishing ahead of triple Olympic champion Gabby Thomas.
Her decision to represent Turkey marks a significant moment in her career — and a sobering reflection for Nigerian athletics.
