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Nigerian sprint star Favour Ofili switches allegiance to Turkey, citing frustration with Nigeria’s Athletics Federation. The move sparks disappointment and debate in the athletics community.
A Nigerian athletics enthusiast has expressed disappointment following the news that Favour Ofili, a world and Nigerian record-holding sprinter, has switched her allegiance from Nigeria to Turkey.
Pulse Sports Nigeria reported on Sunday morning, revealing that Ofili made the decision earlier last month, citing dissatisfaction with the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) for its incompetence.
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More accolades have been pouring in for Favour Ofili's World Best feat as Africa's fastest woman in history Ta Lou-Smith joins the elite list.
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20:50 - 17.05.2025
Favour Ofili shatters women's 150m World Record, joins Tobi Amusan in elite league of history makers on athletics all-time list
Favour Ofili is the new World Record holder in the women's 100m event.
Favour Ofili’s Switch: A Blow to Nigerian Athletics
Ofili, popularly known as 'Star Girl', is a 22-year-old speedster who recently set a world record of 15.85 seconds in the 150m at the Adidas Atlanta City Games.
Despite her achievements and being nurtured from her youth career in Nigeria, she has requested a change of nationality to Turkey.
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The report indicates she will receive a base payment of $500,000, potentially rising to $1,000,000, reflecting the financial incentives behind the move.
Her decision was reportedly fueled by years of neglect and frustration with the AFN, particularly after the federation's failure to properly register her for the 100m event at the 2024 Paris Olympics, which affected her performance and opportunities.
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An investigation committee later recommended sanctions against AFN officials and compensation for Ofili due to the mishandling of her Olympic participation.
Mixed Reactions from Nigerian Athletics Community
Fumilayo Fameso, a respected athletics reporter and voice in Nigeria’s sports industry, shared her perspective on the social media platform X.
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She expressed that while she is not against athletes switching nationality, it should not happen at the senior level after a country has invested in their development.
“I'm not against athletes switching nationality, but not at senior level,” she posted on X.
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Fameso emphasised that Nigeria played a crucial role in making Ofili a household name and that Nigerian fans have supported her from the start.
“FOL, whether we accept or not, Nigeria still made Ofili from youth till she became a household name. Without the discovery in Nigeria, you won't be recognised internationally,” she added.
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She lamented that despite the love and prayers from Nigerian fans, the country's environment has not been worthy of such patriotism, and cautioned against richer countries easily recruiting top talents.
Ofili’s switch to Turkey signals a significant moment in Nigerian athletics, reflecting deeper issues within the country’s sports administration and raising questions about athlete management and support.
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The move has sparked disappointment but also a call for reflection on how Nigeria nurtures and retains its sporting talents
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