President of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), Tonobok Okowa, has confirmed that U.S.-based Nigerian sprinter Favour Ofili has switched her international allegiance to Turkey, dealing a major blow to Nigeria’s athletics prospects ahead of the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo.
Speaking during a press briefing at the National Athletics Championships in Lagos, Okowa said Ofili’s decision highlights the growing trend of elite Nigerian athletes being lured by other countries offering better financial support and incentives.
“I can tell you that most of our elite athletes are already being approached by other countries to change their nationality and allegiance,” Okowa said. “As we speak, Favour Ofili has been taken by the Turkish Federation.”
Though Ofili’s name still appears under Nigeria on the World Athletics website, sources within the AFN say the switch is already in motion, with formal confirmation expected soon. Reports indicate that Turkey is offering up to $500,000 to athletes willing to switch nationality as part of its build-up to global competitions.
Okowa blamed the development on Nigeria’s failure to adequately fund and support its athletes, adding that similar cases had occurred in the past with Francis Obikwelu (Portugal), Gloria Alozie (Spain), and Femi Ogunode (Qatar).
“The kind of money they put on the table is not something many athletes would refuse,” Okowa stated. “That’s why we are pleading with Nigeria and the government to support us more, or we’ll keep losing our stars.”
Despite the setback, Okowa expressed optimism about the talent emerging from the national scene, particularly in the men’s 100 metres, where young athletes are showing promise after transitioning into the U.S. NCAA system.
“What we’re seeing now is encouraging,” he said. “Our boys have come of age. The real question is: what are we doing to keep them in our system?”
