Nigeria Blocks Favour Ofili's Allegiance Switch to Turkey

The Nigerian government, through the National Sports Commission (NSC), is actively working to block sprinter Favour Ofili's potential switch to represent Turkey. The NSC has stated that Ofili, who is among the elite athletes that received training grants last year, is not eligible to compete for another country until September 2028.

This decision follows a formal written confirmation from World Athletics regarding her status. Ofili has made significant contributions to Nigerian athletics, having run a 22-second 200m race (21.96 seconds) and represented Nigeria in major events, including the Youth Olympics in 2019, the World Championships in 2019, the Commonwealth Games in 2022, and she is expected to compete in the Paris 2024 Olympics.

The NSC has dismissed reports of her training switch to Qatar, emphasizing her loyalty to Nigeria, as highlighted by Nigerian sprint legend Mari Onyali, who rejected offers from four countries during her career to remain committed to Nigeria.