Administrative malpractice, Olympic exclusions, and a system in crisis. Favour Ofili decided to represent Türkiye after years of disagreements with her home country’s Athletics Federation. Her change of flag stirs up the debate over sports management in Africa and rekindles the exodus of talent.
“I am starting a new chapter representing Türkiye.” With these words to her more than 40,000 followers on Instagram, Ofili, one of the most promising figures in African athletics, made her change of sporting allegiance official. The 22-year-old athlete has decided to leave Nigeria after prolonged disputes with the Nigerian Athletics Federation and the Nigerian Olympic Committee, citing administrative errors that, as reported by her, cost her participation in two consecutive editions of the Olympic Games: Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024.
The announcement was made by the athlete herself on social media, specifically with a carousel of motley photos in which she recaps her 2025 and takes the opportunity to share a heartfelt message in which she regrets her departure from the national team. She says she feels hopeful about what lies ahead, though. “I am proud to have represented Nigeria so successfully for so many years,” she wrote. She has won six gold medals, two silver medals and two bronze medals in worldwide competitions, establishing herself as one of the greats.
However, her upward trajectory has been marked by episodes that have undermined her confidence in her nation’s sporting institutions. In Tokyo, Ofili was one of the athletes excluded for non-compliance with out-of-competition doping controls. And in the French capital, she was blacklisted for the 100-meter dash, a decision that, she tearfully confessed during the event, left her devastated.
Her medal cabinet already includes a silver medal in the 400 meters at the 2019 All-Africa Games. She also won silver in the 200 meters at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, and was a bronze medalist in the 200 meters at the 2021 World U-20 Championships. The Port Harcourt native is also the African indoor record holder in the 200 meters and holds a national record (also in the U-20 category) in the same distance with a time of 21.96 seconds, making her the first Nigerian woman in history (and the second African woman) to break the 22-second barrier.
According to the former Louisiana State University prospect in the NCAA, where she also broke records, she has not received compensation, clear explanations, or apologies on either occasion. “Everyone remains in their positions,” she denounced. “They said they had paid me compensation. I haven’t received anything from anyone, not even an apology.”
AFN President Tonobok Okowa confirmed to ESPN that both World Athletics and the athlete herself notified of the change of nationality. Although, he rejected accusations of negligence on the part of the organisation and attributed Ofili’s decision to strictly economic reasons. “It’s all about money. She and her coach are trying to make money. I don’t see anything wrong with that, but she should stop using these reasons as an excuse,” he stated.
Continue reading with Eandel
Subscribe to unlock the complete story and receive your subscriber benefits.
