The Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) has publicly dismissed claims by sprinter Favour Ofili that her controversial switch of allegiance to Turkey was due to administrative negligence. AFN President Tonobok Okowa stated in an interview that Ofili’s reasons for moving were primarily financial, contradicting the athlete’s assertions that repeated negligence by Nigerian sports authorities forced her decision.
Ofili, who represented Nigeria with distinction including multiple medals and being a 200m Olympic finalist, announced her decision to compete for Turkey, citing exclusion from the Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 Olympics due to failures by Nigerian officials to update her drug-testing status and register her name on time.
However, Okowa countered that Ofili and her coach have financially motivated incentives behind their decision. “She knows the whole truth... This is all about money,” he told ESPN. He emphasized no personal objection to her decision but rejected the narrative of neglect as her public justification.
Ofili’s move follows a growing pattern of Nigerian athletes switching allegiances due to varied reasons including personal and professional motivations. Among those are stars like Gloria Alozie and Francis Obikwelu, who found success after changing their national representation.
This public disagreement highlights tensions between athletes and sports administrators in Nigeria, spotlighting challenges in athlete management and retention.