Nigerian sprint sensation Favour Ofili has initiated the process of switching allegiance to Turkey, citing long-standing frustrations with the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN).
According to reports, the 22-year-old began the paperwork on May 31, 2025, shortly before the current AFN leadership was re-elected.
Ofili, a rising star in global athletics, recently made headlines by setting a world record of 15.85 seconds in the 150m at the Adidas Atlanta City Games.
Her potential nationality switch aligns with Turkey’s strategic recruitment of elite athletes ahead of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
The programme reportedly offers financial incentives, including an initial payment of at least $500,000 per athlete, along with monthly stipends and performance bonuses.
Sources indicate that Ofili expressed her discontent to the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU), pointing to years of administrative lapses by the AFN.
She has twice missed Olympic appearances due to federation-related issues.
In 2021, she was among 13 Nigerian athletes disqualified from the Tokyo Games due to failed compliance with doping control protocols.
More recently, she reportedly met the qualifying standard for Paris 2024 but was not entered for the 100m event by Nigerian authorities.
Ofili, widely seen as one of the next big names in women’s sprints, currently holds Nigeria’s national records in the 200m indoors (22.11s) and outdoors (21.96s).
Her recent performances include personal bests of 10.93s (legal) in the 100m and sub-11 second times this season, meeting the qualifying standards for both the 100m and 200m at the upcoming World Championships.
At the 2024 Paris Olympics, she finished sixth in the 200m final, Nigeria’s best result in track events.
Her consistent performances and youth make her an attractive prospect for countries like Turkey, which is actively recruiting international talent to bolster its relay and individual sprint squads.
Turkey’s efforts reportedly target up to 15 athletes, particularly in the women’s 4x100m relay, with interest also shown in Jamaican sprinters.
For Ofili, the potential switch represents both a career opportunity and a statement on the state of sports governance in Nigeria.
