The Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) says it is taking urgent steps to address growing concerns about athlete welfare, following unconfirmed reports that sprint star Favour Ofili has switched national allegiance to Turkey.
AFN President Tonobok Okowa acknowledged that while the federation has yet to receive official communication from either Ofili or World Athletics confirming the move, the situation has sparked serious introspection within Nigeria’s athletics leadership.
“What we’ve read so far remains speculation, but if it turns out to be true, then Nigeria must step up when it comes to the welfare of athletes,” Okowa said in an interview with Making of Champs.
“If Nigeria can invest more in athletes, it will go a long way,” he added. “We’re hearing that even countries in the Arab world are starting to do what Turkey is doing. The concern is not just about Ofili, it’s about the ones we haven’t heard about yet.”
Ofili, 22, recently made global headlines after setting a world record in the 150m at the Adidas Atlanta City Games. However, reports suggest she has grown disillusioned with the Nigerian sports system, particularly over administrative lapses that affected her participation in previous Olympic Games.
According to Jamaican journalist Kayon Raynor, Ofili expressed her frustrations to the Athletics Integrity Unit, citing issues involving the AFN and the Nigeria Olympic Committee during both the Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 Olympics.
Okowa, while acknowledging her discontent, warned that the growing trend of nationality switches is also fueled by significant financial incentives from other countries.
“She’s an adult, and she’s working closely with her coach. Offers like these are hard to ignore,” he said. “We’ve seen this before. Countries are offering money and citizenship, and it’s not just Nigeria being targeted. Jamaicans, Kenyans and others are also in talks to change allegiance. So we must understand this in the wider context.”
Turkey, in particular, has reportedly intensified its efforts to recruit foreign athletes, allegedly offering up to $500,000 for a switch in allegiance. The situation has drawn comparisons to past cases involving Nigerian athletes such as Francis Obikwelu (Portugal), Gloria Alozie (Spain), and Femi Ogunode (Qatar), all of whom achieved greater success under their adopted nations.
Okowa revealed that he had made repeated efforts to contact Ofili but was unable to reach her.
“I’ve been trying to reach her. We had a strong relationship, even with her family. But suddenly, she blocked everyone. That was when I knew something was wrong,” he stated.
World Athletics still lists Ofili as a Nigerian athlete, and no official statement has been issued by the Turkish Athletics Federation.
However, with the 2025 World Athletics Championships scheduled for September in Tokyo, her eligibility and participation remain uncertain.
Ofili had already qualified for the global event, and her potential absence could deal another blow to Nigeria’s medal hopes on the international stage.
