Nigerian sprinter Favour Ofili’s planned switch to compete for Turkiye has hit a major hurdle, with Nigerian sports authorities saying she is still eligible to represent Nigeria.
Ofili announced in September on Instagram that she wanted to start “a new chapter representing Türkiye” after years competing for Nigeria.
She later said the move was motivated by frustrations with Nigeria’s sports administration.
Nearly six months after the announcement, Ofili has not competed for Türkiye, and the transfer appears stalled.
A senior official of the National Sports Commission said she is still considered a Nigerian athlete. If she wants to compete for another country, she may have to wait until September 2028, potentially missing the 2028 Summer Olympics.
Ofili has had several conflicts with Nigeria’s sports authorities. She was barred from competing at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics due to doping control issues and was excluded from the women’s 100m event at Paris 2024 Olympics despite qualifying.
Her proposed switch has sparked debate. Former Nigerian sprinter Mary Onyali criticized athletes who switch countries, citing loyalty. Ofili said her situation is different because she was denied opportunities to compete.
Türkiye is actively recruiting international athletes ahead of the 2028 Olympics, including stars from Jamaica and Kenya. It remains unclear if Ofili will join them. For now, she remains officially tied to Nigeria.
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