Izuchukwu OkosiNigeria’s sprinter and 150m world record holder, Favour Ofili, shocked Nigerian athletics fans and her supporters on Sunday with the news that she has professionally switched allegiance from Nigeria to Turkey.
Ofili, one of the brightest athletics talents that Nigeria have produced in recent years fell out with the Athletics Federation of Nigeria.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelThe Athletics Federation of Nigeria caused her to miss the Tokyo 2020 Olympics after they failed to confirm her number of doping control tests.
The gifted athlete then missed the 100m at the Paris Olympics in 2024 after the AFN did not enter her for the competition.
Ofili ran in the 200m amid the outcry from Nigerians. She finished 6th in the 200m final.
The former African junior champion had represented Nigeria once after the Paris Olympics fiasco but had seemingly been working behind the scene to find a new home for her career.
The Nigeria turned Turkey runner holds the personal best times of 10.94 secs and 21.96 secs respectively in the 100m and 200m events.
Following her omission from the 100m event at the Paris Olympics, a panel headed by veteran journalist, Mumini Alao – the Group Managing Director at Complete Communications Limited, publishers of Complete Sports newspaper was established by the sports ministry.
The AFN officials deemed responsible for the action was fined for their indiscretion.
Turkey offers $500k to each athlete that represent the country at major athletics Championships along with generous training and competition bonuses.
READ ALSO: Olympics 100m Exclusion: Panel Recommends N8m Compensation For Ofili
Ofili however is said to have refuted claims that she took the decision for monetary reasons rather cited the lack of professionalism and honesty by the Athletics Federation in Nigeria.
Ofili joins other notable athletes from other countries to change allegiance and represent Turkey.
Others to have taken that route include Jamaica’s Paris 2024 discuss gold medalist, Roje Stona, Shot Put bronze medallist, Rajinddrs Campbell, and U-20 triple jump world record holder, Jaydon Hibbert.
Izuchukwu Okosi is a Nigerian sports and entertainment journalist with two decades of experience in the media industry having begun his media journey in 2002 as an intern at Mundial Sports International (MSI) and Africa Independent Television (AIT), owners of Daar Communications Plc.
