Nigerian track sensation and 150m world record holder, Favour Ofili, has reportedly initiated a formal process to switch her athletic allegiance from Nigeria to Turkey, just three months before the 2025 World Athletics Championships scheduled to hold in Tokyo.
The revelation was made by Jamaica-based journalist Kayon Raynor, who disclosed via his verified X (formerly Twitter) handle that Ofili submitted the request to the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) as of May 31, 2025.
“Nigerian sprinter Favour Ofili has switched allegiance to Turkey as of May 31, 2025. According to impeccable TVJ News Centre sources, the 22-year-old has advised the AIU of her frustration with the Nigerian Athletics Federation,” Raynor posted.
Sources close to the athlete reportedly confirmed that her decision stems from long-standing grievances over administrative lapses within the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN)—failures which Ofili claims cost her key international opportunities.
According to the report, Ofili missed out on participation at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics after Nigerian officials failed to submit the required documentation confirming her number of out-of-competition doping control tests. In a similar mishap, she was not entered for the 100m event at the Paris 2024 Olympics, despite being eligible. She went on to finish sixth in the 200m final.
“Ofili reportedly stated that her decision to leave Nigeria was not financially motivated but based on repeated administrative setbacks that have harmed her career,” Raynor added.
The sprinter’s application is now under review by the AIU, and any official switch would require a clearance period in accordance with World Athletics rules. For now, World Athletics still lists Ofili as a Team Nigeria athlete, and she remains on Nigeria’s qualified list for the World Championships in Tokyo from September 13–21, 2025.
Favour Ofili has remained a rising force in global sprinting, recently capturing the world’s attention with her record-breaking 150m sprint at the Adidas Atlanta City Games, clocking 15.85 seconds—obliterating the previous mark of 16.23 seconds held by Olympic champion Shaunae Miller-Uibo.
Ofili’s potential departure comes as a fresh blow to Nigerian athletics, which has seen several top athletes opt to represent other nations in recent years, citing poor sports management and lack of institutional support.
If approved, Ofili would become the latest elite Nigerian-born athlete to switch allegiance, joining a growing list of African-born talents now competing under foreign flags.
