World record holder in the women’s 150m, Favour Ofili, has accused the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) and the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) of negligence at the Tokyo 2020 and the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, noting that the disappointments motivated her switch to Turkey, Punch Sport Extra reports.
Ofili’s confirmation of her nationality switch comes almost three months after it was first rumoured.
The 22-year-old rattled Nigerian athletics in June with her purported move, and she confirmed it on Monday, a day after the AFN also announced Nigeria’s contingent to the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan.
‘Wrapping up my 2025 season has been a whirlwind of new experiences and big decisions. Racing back-to-back across amazing cities and learning from the best has been incredible’, she posted via her Instagram account.
‘As some of you have heard, I’m also starting a new chapter representing Turkey. 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 a 200m Olympic finalist while experiencing the biggest disappointment from AFN and NOC for their negligence towards me in two Olympic (Tokyo/Paris).
‘I have made this decision. While that means sitting out this year’s championship in Tokyo, this change comes from the heart, not from financial motives. I’m truly grateful to have discovered a new home in Turkey. I’m excited for what’s ahead and grateful for all the support I got from my coach, agent, sponsor adidas and my loved ones during this difficult time’.
Ofili was among the 10 Nigerian athletes who were banned from competing at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 due to missing out of competition tests.
Her travails continued in Paris, where they also failed to register her for the women’s 100m event.
The Turkish athletics body has been shopping for athletes this year, including Jamaicans, and reportedly pay as much as $500,000 to foreign athletes to switch allegiance to the European country.
Following administrative lapses, Nigeria has a rich list of athletes like Francis Obikwelu (Portugal) Gloria Alozie (Spain), Florence Ekpo-Umoh (Germany), Salwa Eid Naser (Bahrain), Femi Ogunode (Qatar), amongst several others, who dumped the country for other nations and went on to excel in their careers internationally.
Individually, Ofili has had a good season, making her Diamond League debut and she made history at the Adidas Atlanta City Games in May by setting a new world record in the 150m, clocking 15.85s to break the previous mark of 16.23s held by Olympic champion Shaunae Miller-Uibo.
