‘She Won’t Be Stopped’ – AFN Reacts To Favour Ofili’s ‘Switch’ To Turkey

Last updated: Jun 23, 2025. 12:50 pm

By Praise Ben

3 Min Read

Favour Ofili’s “Switch” To Turkey

AFN Reacts To Favour Ofili’s ‘Switch’ To Turkey.
AFN President Okowa expressed shock, admitting Nigeria failed to support her.
Turkey allegedly offered huge financial incentives to attract international athletes.

The President of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), Tonobok Okowa, has expressed deep shock over reports that Nigeria’s sprint sensation and 150m women’s world record holder, Favour Ofili, has allegedly switched her allegiance to Turkey.

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EKO HOT BLOG reports that the news, coming just three months before the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, has stirred fresh concerns about Nigeria’s ability to retain its top sporting talents. Ofili, 22, is reported to have begun the process of changing her nationality, citing frustration with the Nigerian athletics system.

The story was first reported by Jamaica-based journalist, Kayon Raynor, who claimed that Ofili had also communicated her grievances to the Athletics Integrity Unit.

Reacting to the development, Okowa admitted the federation was completely blindsided. “If this is true, it is sad, disheartening, and painful,” Okowa told Punch. “She is a promising athlete with huge potential. From her interactions with us, it seems she had been preparing this move quietly. She is old enough to make her own decisions. Although it hurts, we won’t stop her.”

Okowa acknowledged that the AFN had failed in some areas, admitting, “We must also accept that we let her down at different times. But she remains our child, our sister, our daughter.”

As of now, World Athletics still lists Ofili as a Nigerian athlete, and she has already qualified to represent Nigeria at the upcoming World Championships in Tokyo, scheduled for September 13 to 21.

Reports suggest Turkey has intensified efforts to recruit international talents, allegedly offering financial packages up to $500,000 to attract athletes willing to switch nationalities.

This incident revives painful memories for Nigeria, which has previously lost stars like Francis Obikwelu (Portugal), Gloria Alozie (Spain), and Salwa Eid Naser (Bahrain) to other countries under similar circumstances.

The development has once again raised serious questions about athlete welfare, administrative lapses, and the continued struggle to retain world-class talents in Nigeria’s sports system.