When a rising star beats an Olympic legend and still walks away from her country, you know the problem runs deeper than medals. That’s the story behind Favour Ofili, the Nigerian sprint sensation who not only beat Elaine Thompson-Herah at the 2024 New York Grand Prix but also made global headlines weeks later for ditching Nigeria to represent Turkey. Why would one of Africa’s fastest-ever women leave her home nation right before the World Championships? As track and field educator and sports media professional Emerole Anderson knows—and has revealed—the truth is as frustrating as it is painful.
On his YouTube channel, The Final Leg Track and Field, Anderson paints the full picture, starting with Tokyo 2020 (held in 2021). Favour Ofili, alongside nine other Nigerian athletes, was disqualified due to failed out-of-competition testing, not because they used banned substances, but because Nigeria’s own federation didn’t meet minimum testing standards. “These athletes were already in Tokyo—already in Tokyo,” he emphasized, “they didn’t allow her….. at the Tokyo Olympic Games .” Actually, these athletes were declared ineligible due to administrative failures by the Athletics Federation of Nigeria: they failed to carry out the mandatory Rule 15 out-of-competition drug tests (three no-notice tests across at least three weeks within 10 months before the Games).
As a result, the Athletics Integrity Unit ruled Nigeria “the most affected country” under Category A, and the athletes, already in Tokyo, were barred from competing and even staged a protest in the Olympic Village. The AIU had warned Nigeria since 2020, categorizing it as “high-risk” for testing non-compliance. Athletes like Ruth Usoro, Rosemary Chukwuma, and Ofili protested inside the Olympic Village, devastated. “This was supposed to be one of the happiest moments of my life,” said one. Instead, it became a nightmare. But that was just strike one.
The second blow came at the Paris 2024 Olympics, where Favour Ofili again qualified, this time for the 100m, but was never entered into the race by Nigerian officials. The Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) and the Nigerian Olympic Committee failed to submit her registration for the women’s 100 m event. This administrative oversight meant that she was barred from competing in that race, even though she was already in Paris.
She found out just days before her event. Anderson highlighted her raw post: “I qualified, but those with the AFN Athletics Federation of Nigeria and NOOCC National Olympic Committee failed to enter me.” She did make the 200m final and placed sixth with a 22.05s, her season’s best, but the damage was already done. Anderson was blunt: “The matter is that an opportunity was taken away from Favour Ofili by no fault of her own.” Well, the reason seems very valid now. But the question here comes, so why Turkey only?
Why did Favour Ofili leave Nigeria for Turkey?
Well, news of Favour Ofili’s nationality switch broke on 22 June 2025, when Jamaican journalist Kayon Raynor first broke the news: “She has switched allegiance to Türkiye as of May 31.” But Anderson dived into the why. Ofili wasn’t chasing a paycheck. She wasn’t looking for a shortcut. She went to the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) herself and explained the consistent failures of the Nigerian Athletics Federation. “This is not about money,” Anderson said. “She told them: I cannot stay with a federation that keeps sabotaging my career.” Under World Athletics rules, athletes switching countries usually wait three years, but there are exceptions. If the cause is beyond the athlete’s control, the AIU can grant early clearance. And that chaos may cost Nigeria more than just medals.
Also, Turkey is reportedly presenting a comprehensive package to support her athletic career and quality of life. Alongside a competitive base salary at or above the Turkish minimum wage (around 14,000 TRY gross/month), the offer reportedly includes private health insurance, performance-based bonuses, transportation and meal allowances, and housing support. Additional perks likely include private pension contributions, paid annual leave (from 14 to 20 days depending on years served), and maternity/paternity provisions—all designed to attract top-tier talent. While specific numbers for Ofili haven’t been disclosed, this aligns with the kind of full support package routinely offered to elite foreign athletes in Turkey.
“This isn’t just one athlete walking away,” Anderson warned. “This is a statement.” Ofili isn’t alone in her frustrations, and her exit might inspire others to follow. She could now be eligible for the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo—representing Turkey, not the country she once called home. It’s bittersweet. Nigeria nurtured her beginnings, but neglect and mismanagement pushed her out. But Favour Ofili’s switch to Turkey isn’t an isolated case; it’s part of a long-running pattern of Nigerian athletes leaving due to neglect and mismanagement.
For instance, Francis Obikwelu, who won silver for Portugal at the 2004 Athens Olympics, openly criticised Nigerian officials, saying, “We have talented athletes… but the problem is that there are no deliberate efforts to make them reach greater heights. The athletes are willing … but the officials keep telling them there is no money.” Similarly, Kemi Adekoya famously held up a banner reading “I Bahrain” at a Diamond League meet after moving to Bahrain in 2014, a decision triggered when Nigeria failed to register her properly. Even Glory Alozie moved to Spain after early successes for Nigeria went unrewarded. These stories echo the same refrain behind Favour Ofili’s decision, that when Nigeria fails to invest, register, or plan effectively, its brightest talents don’t just leave—they find a system that values them.
Well, Favour Ofili’s was a long time coming. They failed her in Tokyo. They failed her in Paris. Now she’s taking her power back.
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