Sprinter cites neglect and administrative lapses as she completes nationality switch
Nigerian sprint sensation, Favour Ofili, has officially transferred her sporting allegiance to Turkey, in a move that underscores growing frustration with administrative failings within Nigeria’s athletics governance.
Ofili, one of the country’s most promising talents, completed the switch after Nigeria’s Athletics Federation (AFN) and the Nigerian Olympic Committee (NOC) failed—for the second time—to register her for the Olympic Games, despite meeting the qualifying standard.
The 21-year-old recently clocked the required time in the women’s 100m event to qualify for Paris 2024. However, in a shocking repeat of events, her name was omitted from the official entry list submitted by Nigerian authorities—a glaring administrative oversight that has now cost her another shot at the Olympics.
This marks the second time in her career that Ofili has been denied Olympic participation due to errors by national bodies. In 2021, she also missed the delayed Tokyo 2020 Games after the AFN and the National Anti-Doping Committee (NADC) failed to get her tested in time—an oversight that affected 14 Nigerian athletes in total, drawing global criticism and embarrassment.
According to respected athletics journalist, Kanyon Raynor, Ofili formally expressed her frustration to the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU), citing long-standing neglect by Nigerian authorities. She initiated the nationality transfer process on May 31st, just weeks before the AFN’s current leadership was re-elected in June—despite its turbulent track record.
Ofili’s defection to Turkey is another blow to Nigeria’s dwindling athletics fortunes and raises further questions about the competence and accountability of the country’s sports administrators. A rising star with a decorated collegiate career in the United States, Ofili was widely seen as one of Nigeria’s medal prospects in Paris.
As the countdown to the Olympic Games continues, her departure highlights the urgent need for structural reforms within Nigerian athletics—before more elite talents follow her path.
