Nigerian sprinter Favour Ofili reportedly switches allegiance to Turkey ahead of 2025 World Championships

Nigerian sprint star and 150m world record holder, Favour Ofili, has reportedly switched her sporting allegiance to Turkey, just three months before the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, according to PUNCH Online.

The development was first reported by Jamaica-based journalist Kayon Raynor, who revealed via X that Ofili's switch was formalized on May 31, 2025.

“Nigerian sprinter Favour Ofili has switched allegiance to Turkey,” Raynor posted, citing sources from TVJ News Centre. “The 22-year-old informed the Athletics Integrity Unit of her ongoing frustration with the Nigerian Athletics Federation.”

Ofili reportedly told the AIU that she was denied the opportunity to compete in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics due to the Federation’s failure to confirm her required number of doping tests. She also missed out on competing in the 100m event at the Paris 2024 Olympics, allegedly because the Nigerian Athletics Federation and the Nigeria Olympic Committee failed to enter her for the event. She did, however, place sixth in the 200m final.

Raynor added that Ofili made it clear her decision to switch was not financially motivated.

As of now, World Athletics still lists Ofili as a Nigerian athlete. The sprinter remains one of the athletes qualified for the 2025 World Championships, set to take place in Tokyo from September 13 to 21.

Ofili recently made headlines after breaking the women’s 150m world record at the Adidas Atlanta City Games in May, clocking an impressive 15.85 seconds to surpass the previous record of 16.23 seconds held by Olympic gold medallist Shaunae Miller-Uibo.

Her reported switch comes amid increased recruitment efforts by Turkey, which has been actively seeking foreign talent, including from Jamaica, and is said to offer up to $500,000 to top athletes willing to represent the country.

Ofili now joins a growing list of Nigerian-born athletes who have left the country due to administrative failures and limited support. Notable examples include Francis Obikwelu (Portugal), Gloria Alozie (Spain), Florence Ekpo-Umoh (Germany), Salwa Eid Naser (Bahrain), and Femi Ogunode (Qatar), all of whom went on to achieve significant international success under new flags.