🏃‍♀️Exodus of Talent: Favour Ofili Joins the List of Nigerian Athletes Abroad

 Favour Ofili’s Switch: From Nigeria to Turkey

Lagos, Sept. 2, 2025 — Nigerian sprinter Favour Ofili has officially switched allegiance to Turkey, ending months of speculation over her international future. The update comes after the World Athletics database listed her as a Turkish athlete, confirming her departure from Nigeria’s track and field program.

The move follows years of tension between Ofili and the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN). The 21-year-old was excluded from the 100m event at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics due to an administrative blunder over doping test registrations, and again from the Paris 2024 Games, despite having qualified.

On May 31, 2025, Jamaican journalist Kayon Raynor first reported that Ofili had filed for a nationality switch. At the time, the National Sports Commission (NSC) and the AFN denied receiving any formal notification, insisting she remained a Nigerian athlete.

By late June, World Athletics confirmed that Ofili was among four athletes whose applications had been submitted by Turkey, though the Nationality Review Panel (NRP) had yet to review them.

The matter was finally settled in August, when AFN President Tonobok Okowa, speaking at Nigeria’s National Athletics Championship in Lagos, admitted that Ofili had indeed completed her switch. He described the loss as “a major blow” and called on both the government and private sector to do more to retain the country’s top athletes.

On September 1, 2025, Ofili broke her silence with a personal statement.

“My move wasn’t inspired by financial reasons … I’m proud to have represented Nigeria … this change comes from the heart,” she said.

She thanked her coach, agent, and family, while stressing that the decision was an emotional one, not a business transaction. Under World Athletics’ three-year waiting rule, she will be ineligible to compete in the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo, unless granted a waiver.

Her switch has now been formally recognized, with the global athletics body listing Favour Ofili under the Turkish flag.

🆚 Comparing Ofili’s Case with Other Nigerian Athletes

Favour Ofili’s story isn’t new. Nigerian athletics has a worrying trend of losing or almost losing stars due to poor management and lack of support:

Tobi Amusan 🇳🇬 → threatened to switch allegiance in 2022 after constant battles with AFN over unpaid bonuses and administrative failings. Though she stayed with Nigeria, her frustrations were loud.

Divine Oduduru 🇳🇬 → one of Nigeria’s fastest sprinters, but his career stalled after doping controversies and inadequate backing from AFN. He has openly voiced regrets about the lack of athlete welfare at home.

Blessing Okagbare 🇳🇬 → before her doping ban, she repeatedly clashed with Nigerian sports authorities, highlighting neglect and poor treatment of elite athletes.

🌍 Feature: Top 10 Nigerian Athletes Who Switched Allegiance

Nigeria has a long history of losing talent to other nations across sports. Here are 10 of the most high-profile cases:

Francis Obikwelu 🇳🇬 → 🇵🇹

Left Nigeria in the 1990s after feeling unsupported. Went on to win an Olympic silver medal for Portugal in 2004.

Glory Alozie 🇳🇬 → 🇪🇸

Switched to Spain in 2001 after Nigeria failed to support her during a personal tragedy. Became a European champion.

Favour Ofili 🇳🇬 → 🇹🇷

Latest exit, driven by AFN politics and neglect.

Ezinne Okparaebo 🇳🇬 → 🇳🇴

A sprinter who flourished under Norway’s system of athlete development.

Tosin Oke 🇳🇬 → 🇬🇧

Triple jumper who switched to Great Britain for better facilities and support.

Abdulrahman Bashir 🇳🇬 → 🇶🇦

Part of Qatar’s aggressive recruitment of African talent, attracted by financial security.

Oladapo Ayoola (basketball) 🇳🇬 → 🇺🇸

Represents a wave of Nigerian-born basketballers who naturalized as Americans through the NCAA system.

Ese Brume (considered) 🇳🇬

Still with Nigeria, but reportedly courted by foreign nations due to Nigeria’s unreliable support system.

Anthony Joshua 🇳🇬 → 🇬🇧

Considered boxing for Nigeria, but said officials “showed no interest.” He went on to become Britain’s two-time heavyweight champion.

Bahrain’s Nigerian recruits 🇳🇬 → 🇧🇭

Over the past decade, Bahrain has naturalized several Nigerian distance runners (like Maryam Yusuf Jamal), lured by funding and career guarantees.

✍🏽 Final Thoughts

Favour Ofili’s switch is not just her story — it’s part of a bigger exodus of Nigerian talent. When stars feel unsupported, ignored, or sabotaged, they find new homes where their dreams are valued.

Nigeria must urgently fix sports governance, athlete welfare, and funding. Otherwise, the next generation of world-class athletes will keep carrying new flags on the international stage — while Nigeria watches from the sidelines.

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