By Silvernews
Nigerian sprint star Favour Ofili has confirmed her switch of allegiance to Turkey, bringing an end to her long-running disputes with the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) and the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC). The 21-year-old, a 200m Olympic finalist, made the announcement on social media, citing repeated negligence that cost her appearances at both the Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
Her ordeal began in Tokyo, where she was disqualified along with nine other Nigerian athletes after the AFN failed to conduct mandatory anti-doping tests. The heartbreak was repeated in Paris, when she was omitted from the women’s 100m start list despite meeting qualification standards, a blunder later blamed on AFN and NOC officials.
By switching allegiance, Ofili joins a growing list of Nigerian athletes who have opted to represent other countries, including Gloria Alozie, Francis Obikwelu, and Emmanuel Bamidele. She will sit out the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo while completing her nationality switch, in line with World Athletics regulations.
