Favour Ofili, a Nigerian sprinter hailing from Delta State, has made headlines just before the upcoming 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo by reportedly changing her allegiance to Turkiye. The news was first revealed by journalist Kayon Raynor, based in Jamaica, who shared the update on his social media handle.
According to Raynor, the 22-year-old Ofili officially declared her switch to Turkey on May 31, 2025, citing her dissatisfaction with the Nigerian Athletics Federation. Ofili expressed her frustration with the federation, claiming that their negligence led to her missing out on key competitions, including the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and the 100-meter event at the Paris Games.
Despite her recent success, including winning a silver medal in the 200m event at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, World Athletics still lists Ofili as Nigerian. However, due to her past representation of Nigeria at the Olympics, there is a mandatory three-year waiting period for her switch to Turkey to be finalized.
As a result of the transition process, Ofili will not be able to compete in the upcoming World Athletics Championships in Beijing in 2027 or the Tokyo event this year. While her absence is disappointing, there may be some silver lining for her in the future.
It is worth noting that Ofili is not the first Nigerian athlete to change nationalities, and her decision to switch to Turkey appears to be driven by factors beyond financial considerations. Despite the challenges she faces in the coming years, fans are hopeful that she will continue to shine on the international stage and make her mark in her new athletic journey.
