Favour Ofili, World record holder in the women’s 150m has officially confirmed her decision to switch allegiance from Nigeria to Turkey. The 22-year-old sprinter explained that negligence by the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN). And also the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) during the Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 Olympics pushed her to make the move.
Rumors about her nationality change surfaced in June, but Ofili ended the speculation on Instagram. Her announcement came just a day after the AFN unveiled Nigeria’s squad for the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo.
Sharing her thoughts, Favour Ofili wrote that her 2025 season had been filled with challenges and major decisions. She stated: “I am proud to have represented Nigeria successfully, winning six gold medals, two silvers, and two bronzes, while also reaching the Olympic 200m final. However, the negligence I experienced at the Olympics forced me to rethink my future. Representing Turkey is a heartfelt decision, not one driven by money.”
Her struggles with Nigeria’s sports administrators date back to 2021, when she was among ten athletes barred from competing in Tokyo due to missed anti-doping tests. The disappointment deepened in Paris 2024, where officials failed to register her for the women’s 100m event.
Despite the setback, Ofili’s career has continued to soar. She made her Diamond League debut this season and etched her name into history at the Adidas Atlanta City Games. Breaking the 150m world record with a time of 15.85 seconds, surpassing Olympic champion Shaunae Miller-Uibo’s mark of 16.23s.
Ofili now joins a long list of Nigerian-born athletes such as Gloria Alozie, Francis Obikwelu, and Femi Ogunode who left Nigeria for better opportunities abroad. She emphasized gratitude for her coach, agent, sponsor Adidas, and loved ones. Also expressing excitement about embracing her new chapter with Turkey.
