Uncertainty lingers over Favour Ofili’s plan to dump Nigeria for Turkey
Earlier this week, news broke out that Nigerian sprinter, Favour Ofili, had submitted documents to the Athletics Integrity Unit, AIU, requesting to change her allegiance to Turkey.
Ofili has allegedly decided to turned her back on the country of her birth, over alleged neglect and administrative failures by the Athletics Federation of Nigeria, AFN, and the Nigerian Olympic Committee, NOC.
There was an incident during the 2024 Olympics in Paris, France, where the 22-year-old was excluded from the 100m event, despite having met the qualifying standards.
The AFN and NOC failed to submit her name for the event – a repeat of a similar administrative blunder that cost her a spot at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
The National Sports Commission, NSC, has however said no official communication has been received from Ofili.
NSC Director-General, Bukola Olopade, speaking to reporters on Wednesday, insisted that she remains a Nigerian athlete for now.
“The NSC has been supporting Ofili through its Elite Athletes Programme (EAP), which provides grants to elite athletes to aid their preparation for major competitions.
“The commission provides annual grants of 20,000 U.S. dollars to athletes on Category A of the Elite Programme, aiming to enhance Nigeria’s performance in international sports,” Olopade said.
However, according to a former media officer of the Super Eagles, Colin Udoh, he got confirmation from the World Athletics that they have received four applications from Turkey, requesting athlete transfers from Jamaica and Nigeria.
Udoh wrote on X: “I just got confirmation from World Athletics that they have received 4 applications from Turkey requesting athlete transfers from Jamaica and Nigeria.
“The applications have neither been reviewed nor approved. Yet. Ergo, Ofili’s switch is not yet official. Still a few months to go.”
DAILY POST asked Oluwashina Okeleji, who works with BBC Africa, if this indicates Ofili’s switch will still happen.
“Probably. Probably not,” Okeleji said.
“A lot of hurdles to get it done.
“But that initial news, that she had switched to Turkey, was fake news.”
If Ofili’s request is eventually granted, she will join a list of Nigerians who have switched allegiance.
Francis Obikwelu and Glory Alozie switched to Portugal and Spain respectively in the prime of their careers.
Florence Ekpo-Umoh (Germany), Salwa Eid Naser (Bahrain), Femi Ogunode (Qatar) are others who also moved to reprsent other countries.
Uncertainty lingers over Favour Ofili’s plan to dump Nigeria for Turkey
