Nigerian sprint sensation Favour Ofili has reportedly switched her sporting allegiance to Turkey following a string of devastating disappointments at the hands of Nigerian sports authorities. The 21-year-old athlete, once seen as a key figure in Nigeria’s sprinting future, has now turned her back on the country she once proudly represented, citing neglect, administrative blunders, and systemic failure.
Ofili, a national record holder and rising star on the global track scene, was denied a chance to compete in the 100 metres at the upcoming Paris 2024 Olympics—despite qualifying for the event. Reports indicate that the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) failed to register her, effectively ending her Olympic dreams for a second consecutive cycle.
This is not the first time Ofili has been sabotaged by bureaucracy. At the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, she was also ruled out after the AFN failed to complete her mandatory out-of-competition drug tests, a gaffe that led to her being disqualified alongside nine other Nigerian athletes. The scandal drew international embarrassment and triggered fierce backlash against Nigerian sports administrators.
To add insult to injury, sources revealed that Ofili was offered a mere ₦8,000 (approximately $5 at the time) as compensation for the Tokyo Olympics disaster—a gesture widely criticized as insulting and dehumanizing to a world-class athlete who had spent years preparing to represent her country.
Frustrated and disillusioned, Ofili has now opted to continue her career under the Turkish flag. While official confirmation is yet to be made public by World Athletics, multiple sources, including Daily Trust, confirm the switch is already in motion. The move is expected to be finalized ahead of the European athletics calendar, where she will now compete for Turkey.
Ofili’s decision has sparked outrage across Nigeria’s sports community, with fans, former athletes, and commentators blaming the AFN’s persistent administrative chaos for the nation’s steady loss of elite talent. Critics argue that Nigeria’s inability to manage its top performers is not just a national disgrace, but a direct pipeline fueling a brain drain in athletics.
As one of Nigeria’s most promising female sprinters, Ofili had been seen as a beacon of the country’s next generation of Olympic hopefuls. Her departure to Turkey may now serve as a watershed moment in the debate over accountability in Nigerian sports—a conversation that’s long overdue.
