Ofili Dumps Nigeria For Turkey Ahead World Athletics Championship
Nigerian sprinter Favour Ofili, has reportedly switched allegiance to Turkey ahead of the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo.
According to Jamaica-based journalist Kayon Raynor, who confirmed the development on his X account on Saturday, citing sources from TVJ News Centre.
According to Raynor, the switch took effect on May 31, and was formally communicated to the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) following what he described as persistent frustrations with the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN).
Raynor wrote: “Ofili has advised the Athletics Integrity Unit of her frustration with the Nigerian Athletics Federation,” Raynor posted. He added that the sprinter had “embraced Turkish citizenship” after being repeatedly sidelined by Nigerian sports authorities.
He added that Ofili’s decision stems from repeated administrative failures by Nigerian authorities that affected her Olympic participation.
Ofili referenced her exclusion from the 100m event at the 2024 Paris Olympics and her absence from the delayed Tokyo 2020 Olympics due to administrative lapses as key reasons for the decision.
“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 noted. “She then missed competing in the 100m at the Paris Olympics after they did not enter her for the event. She was sixth in the 200m final.”
Sources close to the athlete indicated that her decision to switch nationality was based on professional frustrations rather than financial incentives, despite ongoing reports that Turkey has offered substantial benefits—including up to $500,000—to attract international athletes.
However, the 22-year-old is still listed as a Nigerian athlete on the World Athletics website.
Ofili is one of the Nigerian athletes who have qualified for the World Championships, which will be held from September 13 to 21 in Tokyo.
In May, Ofili made headlines at the Adidas Atlanta City Games by setting a new world record in the 150m, clocking 15.85 seconds to shatter the previous record of 16.23 seconds held by Olympic champion Shaunae Miller-Uibo.
The 2025 World Athletics Championships will be the 20th edition of the World Athletics Championships, and is scheduled to be held from 13 to 21 September 2025 in Tokyo.
Ofili Dumps Nigeria For Turkey Ahead World Athletics Championship is first published on The Whistler Newspaper
