Why I Switched Allegiance From Nigeria To Turkey

Why I Switched Allegiance From Nigeria To Turkey – Favour Ofili.
She cited Olympic negligence in Tokyo and Paris as her breaking point.
Ofili remains focused on her career after setting a 150m world record.

World record holder in the women’s 150m, Favour Ofili, has officially confirmed her decision to switch her sporting allegiance from Nigeria to Turkey, blaming persistent negligence by the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) and the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) for her move.

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EKO HOT BLOG reports that her confirmation comes nearly three months after rumours of the switch first surfaced. The 22-year-old, regarded as one of Nigeria’s brightest track prospects, said repeated administrative lapses cost her crucial opportunities on the global stage.

“Wrapping up my 2025 season has been a whirlwind of new experiences and big decisions. Racing back-to-back across amazing cities and learning from the best has been incredible,” she wrote on Instagram.

Ofili accused Nigerian sports administrators of failing her at critical moments. “I am proud to have represented Nigeria for many years in a highly successful way… while experiencing the biggest disappointment from AFN and NOC for their negligence towards me in two Olympic Games (Tokyo and Paris),” she said.

Her frustrations trace back to the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, where she was among 10 Nigerian athletes barred from competing after missing out-of-competition tests. Four years later in Paris, officials again mishandled her registration, preventing her from contesting the women’s 100m event.

The Louisiana State University graduate clarified that her decision was not motivated by financial gains. “While that means sitting out this year’s championship in Tokyo, this change comes from the heart, not from financial motives. I’m truly grateful to have discovered a new home in Turkey. I’m excited for what’s ahead and grateful for all the support I got from my coach, agent, sponsor Adidas, and my loved ones during this difficult time,” she added.

Ofili’s switch places her among a growing list of Nigerian athletes who changed nationality after administrative disappointments, including Francis Obikwelu (Portugal), Gloria Alozie (Spain), Florence Ekpo-Umoh (Germany), Salwa Eid Naser (Bahrain), and Femi Ogunode (Qatar).

Switched Allegiance To Turkey – Favour Ofili

Despite the controversies, the sprinter has had a remarkable 2025 season. She made her Diamond League debut and set a new women’s 150m world record at the Adidas Atlanta City Games in May, clocking 15.85 seconds to break Shaunae Miller-Uibo’s previous mark of 16.23 seconds.

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