Olympic sprinter Favour Ofili has officially confirmed her switch of allegiance from Nigeria to Turkey, marking the end of a turbulent chapter with Nigerian athletics.
The 22-year-old, who competed for LSU Tigers and reached the 200m final at the Paris 2024 Olympics, announced her decision on Instagram on Monday.
She cited years of frustration with the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) and the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC), accusing officials of negligence that cost her the chance to compete at both the Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 Games.
“I’m starting a new chapter representing Turkey,” Ofili wrote.
“I am proud to have represented Nigeria for many years in a highly successful way. Having won six gold medals, two silver medals, and two bronze medals in championship meets, and experiencing the biggest disappointment from AFN and NOC for their negligence towards me in two Olympics, I have made this decision.”
AFN President Tonobok Okowa confirmed Ofili’s switch to ESPN.
“They have officially informed us. Both World Athletics and the athlete herself.”
However, Okowa disputed Ofili’s claims of negligence, insisting her decision was financially motivated.
“Ofili herself knows the whole truth. This is all about money,” Okowa said.
“If she wants to go, it’s okay. She’s an adult and has the right to make her decision. But she should stop using these reasons as her excuse.”
Reports have suggested that Turkey offered Ofili $500,000 to change allegiance, but the sprinter denied the claims, stressing that her move was motivated by disappointment with Nigerian officials rather than finances.
“This change comes from my heart, not from financial motives,” she said.
Ofili was among several Nigerian athletes who missed the Tokyo Olympics due to administrative failures involving out-of-competition testing. At the Paris Games, her name was excluded from the 100m lineup, a decision that left her in tears. She claimed she received neither compensation nor an apology.
Okowa rejected her version of events, blaming previous AFN leadership for the Tokyo debacle and insisting Ofili failed to complete required testing. He also defended the Paris 100m selection, noting other Nigerian sprinters had better qualifying times.
Despite the tensions, Ofili said she is ready to move forward. World Athletics has yet to officially update her nationality, as her application remains under review by the Nationality Review Panel. Under current rules, she may need to serve a three-year waiting period unless granted a waiver for “exceptional circumstances.”
For now, Ofili has confirmed she will miss this year’s World Championships in Tokyo while awaiting clearance.
“While that means sitting out this year’s championships, I’m truly grateful to have discovered a new home in Turkey,” she said.
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