The President of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), Tonobok Okowa, has stated that Favour Ofili is “old enough to decide what’s best for her” and would not be prevented from switching allegiance to another country if she chooses to do so.
Reports surfaced on social media on Sunday claiming that the 22-year-old sprinter had written to the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) to request a change of nationality. According to these reports, the 150-meter world record holder attributed her decision to frustrations experienced with the AFN during recent international competitions.
However, a review of the World Athletics (WA) website indicates that Ofili is still listed as a Nigerian athlete.
In a statement, Okowa expressed his surprise at the news, noting that he had only learned about it through media reports. He clarified that the AFN has not received “any correspondence from World Athletics (WA)” or Ofili herself regarding the alleged switch.
“If this is true, it is sad, disheartening and painful but we are yet to get any official statement from her or any correspondence from World Athletics (WA), on her request. She is a promising athlete with huge potential,” the AFN president said.
“The AFN and the National Sports Commission (NSC) have been working hard to get athletics and other sports in the country back on track and to show that both bodies are matching goals, objectives and words with action. Favour Ofili had already been paid her training grant for this year.
“From the moves we have been making to get her fully prepared and back to the big athletics family, and her response, it’s also clear that she had been preparing and working on her newfound Turkish love. She is old enough to decide what’s best for her, but it’s painful and hard to take for us; however, we will not stop her. She is still our child, sister and daughter.”
‘AFN: OFILI DIFFICULT TO DEAL WITH’
Okowa said Ofili has prevented the federation from reaching her since the Paris Olympics, adding that all attempts to “heal the wounds” proved futile.
The federation said, despite being one of Nigeria’s best athletes in recent years, Ofili is “difficult to deal with”.
“Despite our own inadequacies, on several occasions she shunned the national trials, and even when she came, she selected the events she preferred to compete in,” the statement reads.
“No doubt Ofili is one of best our athletes in recent times but she is difficult to deal with.
“The AFN has its issues, but we are getting along well with other top athletes and are still thriving within the system. We wish her well in whatever she is doing and wherever she is going.”
Favour Ofili represented Nigeria at the 2024 Paris Olympics, but her performance was marred by administrative lapses. Despite qualifying for the women’s 100m, the AFN failed to include her name for the event. She eventually competed in the 200m, reaching the final and finishing sixth.
Ofili was also among ten Nigerian athletes barred from competing at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics due to the AFN’s inability to meet mandatory anti-doping requirements.
Her rumored switch to Turkey is not an isolated case. Several Nigerian athletes have previously changed their allegiances out of frustration with the AFN. Notable examples include Gloria Alozie (to Spain), Francis Obikwelu (to Portugal), and Femi Ogunode (to Bahrain) in the 2000s.
Most recently, Annette Echikunwoke switched to represent the United States and secured a silver medal in the women’s hammer throw at the Paris Olympics.