BREAKING: Nigerian sprint star Favour Ofili has officially confirmed her decision to switch sporting allegiance from Nigeria to Turkey, ushering in a new chapter of her athletics career under the Turkish flag.  

 Favour Ofili Confirms Switch of Allegiance to Turkey — ‘This Change Comes from the Heart, Not Financial Motives’”

Full Article (In-Depth)

Port Harcourt, Nigeria / September 1–2, 2025 — In a heartfelt announcement via her social media platforms, 22-year-old sprint

sensation Favour Ofili confirmed she will now represent Turkey in international athletics. This marks a seismic shift, ending her years competing for Nigeria.

Why the Switch?

Ofili’s decision, she stresses, was not financially motivated. Instead, she cites repeated disappointments due to administrative lapses by Nigerian sporting authorities as pivotal to her move:

• She missed out on competing at Tokyo 2020 due to her federation’s failure to fulfill mandatory out-of-competition drug-testing requirements. 
• At Paris 2024, although she qualified in the 100m, she was omitted from the start list due to another oversight by the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) and Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC). 

Her Announcement (Via Social Media):

“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. 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 being a 200m Olympic finalist, I endured the biggest disappointment from AFN and NOC over Tokyo and 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.”  

Reaction & Context:

• The Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), while expressing sorrow, acknowledged the athlete’s right to make the decision and confirmed they had not received any official notice from her or World Athletics at the time of earlier speculation. 
• Media outlets indicate that Ofili’s allegiance switch took effect around May 31, 2025, though the public confirmation came only recently. 
• As per World Athletics’ nationality transfer rules, Ofili will need to undergo a three-year waiting period before becoming eligible to represent Turkey at major championships—most likely starting in 2028. 

Career Highlights:

• One of Nigeria’s most promising talents, Ofili holds the Nigerian (and African) women’s 200m record with a blistering 21.96 seconds. 
• In May 2025, she cemented her global status by setting a world record in the 150m at the Adidas Atlanta City Games with a time of 15.85 seconds. 

What Does This Mean?

1. For Nigeria: This is a significant blow to the national athletics landscape—as Ofili was one of its brightest prospects. It highlights ongoing challenges within the federation regarding athlete management and administrative competence.
2. For Turkey: Acquiring a global-caliber sprinter boosts Turkey’s long-term Olympic ambitions, particularly ahead of the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.
3. For World Athletics: Highlights the importance of strict adherence to nationality transfer protocols, especially amid talent poaching strategies.