IT IS OFFICIAL: AUSTRALIA BANS SOCIAL MEDIA FOR UNDER-16S IN WORLD-FIRST MOVE. (PHOTO).
Favour Ofili, the women’s 150m world record holder, has officially confirmed her decision to switch nationality from Nigeria to Turkey, citing repeated negligence by the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) and the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) during the Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 Olympic Games. The announcement, made via her Instagram account on Monday, comes nearly three months after rumors of her move first surfaced.
The 22-year-old sprinter, who set a new world record in the 150m with a time of 15.85 seconds at the Adidas Atlanta City Games in May, expressed pride in her achievements with Nigeria, including six gold medals, two silver medals, and two bronze medals in championship meets, as well as reaching the 200m final at the Olympics. However, she highlighted significant disappointments, including her ban from competing in Tokyo 2020 due to missed out-of-competition tests and the AFN’s failure to register her for the women’s 100m event in Paris 2024.
“Wrapping up my 2025 season has been a whirlwind of new experiences and big decisions,” Ofili wrote. “As some of you have heard, I’m also starting a new chapter representing Turkey. This change comes from the heart, not from financial motives. I’m truly grateful to have discovered a new home in Turkey.”
Ofili’s decision means she will miss the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, as announced by the AFN on Sunday. The move aligns her with other Nigerian athletes, such as Francis Obikwelu (Portugal) and Gloria Alozie (Spain), who switched nationalities and achieved international success following administrative challenges in Nigeria. Reports suggest the Turkish athletics body, which has been recruiting foreign talent, offers up to $500,000 to athletes switching allegiance.
Despite the challenges, Ofili’s 2025 season was marked by success, including her Diamond League debut and the historic 150m world record, surpassing the previous mark of 16.23 seconds set by Olympic champion Shaunae Miller-Uibo.
Ofili expressed gratitude to her coach, agent, sponsor Adidas, and loved ones for their support during this transition, signaling her excitement for her future with Turkey. The move underscores ongoing concerns about administrative lapses in Nigerian athletics, prompting calls for reform within the AFN and NOC.
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