“I am Tired”, Favour Ofili let out while crying in the arms of a journalist after finishing 6th in the 200m final at the Paris Olympics on August 6th, 2024, with no Nigerian official on hand to receive her.
When news broke about Favour’s impending switch to Turkey, she came full circle from the 200m Olympic race.
According to Kayon Raynor of Reuters, Ofili informed the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) that her decision was due to years of neglect and ill-treatment at the hands of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN).
#BreakingNews
Nigerian sprinter @FavOfili has switched allegiance to Turkey as of May 31, 2025. According to impeccable @TvjNewscentre sources, 22-year-old Ofili has advised the @aiu_athletics of her frustration with the Nigerian Athletics Federation. pic.twitter.com/Jki58PN4L8— Kayon Raynor (@kayraynor) June 22, 2025
Background: Why Ofili is Dumping Nigeria
Five years earlier, AFN and the Nigerian Anti-Doping Committee (NADC) failed to conduct the required test, which resulted in her and 13 other athletes missing the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
In April 2025, the AFN couldn’t get visas for team Nigeria to the World Relays with Favour a part of the 4X100m. women’s team.
Thiis is why Ofili is dumping Nigeria after the final straw.
Additionally, Ofili petitioned the AIU, stating that her decision to switch to Turkey was out of frustration, financial motivations.
AFN Is In the Dark, Not Surprised
President of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria, Tonobok Okowa, has replied to the news, describing his shock and disappointment.
“If this is true, it is sad, disheartening, and painful, but we are yet to get any official statement from her or any correspondence from World Athletics (WA) on her request,”
“From the moves we have been making to get her fully prepared and back to the big athletics family, and her response, it’s also clear that she had been preparing and working on her newfound Turkish love. She is old enough to decide what’s best for her, but it’s painful.”
The Future of Ofili and Her Turkish Ambition
If granted, Ofili must wait for 3 years to represent Turkey as per World Athletics’ transfer of allegiance regulation.
She will miss the Tokyo World Championships in September as part of her waiting period.
Financially, Favour may lose performance bonuses in the 100m, likely tied to a Paris medal or final from Adidas.
Report says Turkey Intend on recruiting up to 15 athletes for LA28, with women’s 4x100m a priority.
Furthermore, two Jamaican athletes are also in the process of switching alleguance.
Ofili joins the likes of Gloria Alozie and Francis Obikwelu as Nigerian athletes who switched allegiance.