Favour Ofili's Switch to Türkiye Blocked by World Athletics

Favour Ofili, a prominent Nigerian sprint star, has had her application to switch athletic allegiance to Türkiye denied by World Athletics. This decision was made after a review of her application, which was submitted alongside ten others linked to Türkiye's recruitment drive for foreign athletes ahead of the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.

World Athletics concluded that approving Ofili's move would compromise core principles, thus she remains eligible to compete for Nigeria and cannot represent Türkiye in international events. The Athletics Federation of Nigeria, under President Tonobok Okowa, has expressed delight at Ofili's return, highlighting the importance of unity and support for Nigeria's top track talent.

Okowa emphasized the need to provide the right environment for Ofili, who specializes in the 100m and 200m events, to thrive, especially as Nigeria seeks to rebuild trust and strengthen its athletic community ahead of major international competitions.