AFN president finally reacts as Favour Ofili to get $500k after Turkey switch

• Favour Ofili has reportedly switched allegiance to correspond Turkey aft a fallout with officials of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria
• Ofili expressed vexation aft missing the Tokyo 2020 Olympics owed to inadequate doping trial confirmations
• She was besides excluded from the Women's 100m astatine the Paris 2024 Olympics, contempt her presumption arsenic 1 of Nigeria’s apical sprinters

The Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) expressed disappointment implicit reports that sprint prima Favour Ofili has switched her planetary allegiance to Turkey.

Jamaican-based writer Kayon Raynor broke the quality connected X, disclosing that the 22-year-old jock informed the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) of her decision, effectual May 31, 2025.

Ofili reportedly cited frustrations with the AFN, including missing the Tokyo 2020 Olympics owed to inadequate doping trial confirmations and being excluded from the 100m astatine the Paris 2024 Olympics, contempt her presumption arsenic 1 of Nigeria’s apical sprinters.

Favour Ofili of Team Nigeria reacts aft the women's 200m semi-finals astatine the Stade de France during the 2024 Paris Summer Olympic Games successful Paris, France. Photo: Sam Barnes.
Source: Getty Images

She wrote connected Instagram:

"It is with large regret that I person conscionable been told I volition not beryllium competing successful the 100 meters astatine this Olympic Games. I qualified, but those with the AFN and NOC failed to participate my name. I person worked for 4 years to gain this opportunity."

Although she reached the 200m last successful Paris, finishing sixth, these incidents strained her narration with Nigerian officials.

Raynor noted that Ofili claimed that her nationality power was not owed to fiscal gains.

AFN reacts to Ofili's planetary switch

AFN president Tonobok Okowa explained that neither the jock nor the World Athletics has officially notified the AFN of the change. He said per Punch:

"If this is true, it is sad, disheartening and achy but we are yet to get immoderate authoritative connection from her oregon immoderate correspondence from World Athletics, connected her request."She is simply a promising jock with immense potential."

He distanced his medication from the Tokyo 2020 issues, which occurred nether the erstwhile board.

According to him, his medication made efforts including backing 60 per cent of doping tests for the Paris Games and providing grooming assistance to each participants.

However, helium admitted that attempts to reconcile with Ofili person been unsuccessful, saying it seems she has present focused connected her determination to Turkey.

Despite their disappointment, the AFN stated it would not artifact Ofili’s decision, calling her a “promising athlete” and extending goodwill.

Okowa continued:

"From the moves we person been making to get her afloat prepared and backmost to the large athletics household and her response, it’s besides wide that she had been preparing and moving connected her caller recovered Turkish love. "She is aged capable to determine what’s champion for her but it is achy and hard to instrumentality for us, however, we volition not halt her, she is inactive our child, sister and daughter."

Ofili inactive a Nigerian athlete

Meanwhile, Ofili remains a Nigerian jock connected the World Athletics Website.

Under its rules, her power to Turkey would necessitate a three-year waiting period, delaying eligibility until 2028, unless a waiver is granted for “exceptional circumstances” similar systemic mismanagement oregon payment concerns.

Favour Ofili of Team Nigeria reacts aft qualifying successful the Women's 200m Round heats connected time 7 of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games. Photo: David Ramos.
Source: Getty Images

Reports besides suggest she could person a $500,000 signing bonus, $30,000 monthly stipends, and up to $1 cardinal successful medal bonuses from Turkey, which has been recruiting apical athletes globally.

Ofili compensated aft Olympics drama

Legit.ng earlier reported that the caput of the recently created Nigerian Sports Commission, Shehu Dikko, released the probe findings into Ofili's case astatine the Paris Olympics.

The study recovered the AFN guilty, with its caput general, Mrs. Rita Mosindi and method director, Mr Samuel Onikeku, facing sanctions.

The Federation was ordered to wage the jock a sum of ₦8,000,000 (about $5,000) arsenic compensation.

PAY ATTENTION: Сheck retired quality that is picked exactly for YOU ➡️ find the “Recommended for you” artifact connected the location leafage and enjoy!

Source: Legit.ng