Nigerian sprint sensation Favour Ofili has officially switched allegiance to Turkey, effective May 31, 2025, following mounting frustrations with the Nigerian Athletics Federation.
According to reports by Jamaica-based journalist Kayon Raynor, the 22-year-old Delta State-born athlete informed the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) that her decision stemmed from repeated administrative failures by the Nigerian federation. Ofili revealed that she missed competing at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics due to the Federation’s failure to confirm her doping control test numbers. She also missed the 100m event at the Paris Olympics after officials failed to enter her, though she still placed 6th in the 200m final.
Ofili emphasized that her decision to represent Turkey was not financially motivated. However, sources indicate she could now earn up to $500,000 competing under the Turkish flag.
The move comes just weeks after Ofili made history at the 2025 Adidas Atlanta City Games, becoming the first woman to run the 150m in under 16 seconds. She set a new world record of 15.85 seconds, eclipsing the previous 16.23s mark set by Olympic champion Shaunae Miller-Uibo in 2018.
Ofili, who boasts personal bests of 10.93s in the 100m and 21.96s in the 200m, is now set to continue her career on the global stage, but this time, in Turkish colours.
