Nigerian sprint sensation and 150m world record holder, Favour Ofili, has officially switched her sporting allegiance to Turkey, just months before the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo.
The news was broken by Jamaican sports journalist Kayon Raynor on Saturday via his X (formerly Twitter) account, citing sources from TVJ News Centre. Raynor revealed that the change of nationality took effect on May 31, 2025, and was duly communicated to the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU).
“Ofili has advised the Athletics Integrity Unit of her frustration with the Nigerian Athletics Federation,” Raynor wrote. “She has now embraced Turkish citizenship after enduring repeated setbacks from the Nigerian side.”
The 22-year-old athlete reportedly pointed to multiple disappointments with the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), including her exclusion from the women’s 100m event at the 2024 Paris Olympics and the Tokyo 2020 Games—delayed due to the pandemic—where she was ruled ineligible over unconfirmed doping tests.
“She stated that the Nigerian Athletics Federation caused her to miss the Tokyo 2020 Olympics after they did not confirm her number of doping control tests,” Raynor explained. “She then missed the 100m in Paris after they failed to enter her for the event, even though she went on to finish sixth in the 200m final.”
Sources close to Ofili clarified that her decision stemmed from professional frustrations, not financial incentives—despite speculation that Turkey has been luring international athletes with offers of up to $500,000.
This move marks yet another high-profile defection from Nigeria’s athletics scene. Past examples include Francis Obikwelu (Portugal), Gloria Alozie (Spain), and Femi Ogunode (Qatar), all of whom went on to achieve major international success under new flags.
The Athletics Federation of Nigeria has yet to comment on Ofili’s decision.
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