AFN braces for athletes welfare amid Ofili’s saga
The Athletics Federation of Nigeria says it is taking steps to address growing concerns around athlete welfare, following reports that sprint sensation Favour Ofili has switched allegiance to Turkey, The PUNCH reports.
AFN president, Tonobok Okowa, admitted that although the federation has not received any official communication from the athlete or World Athletics confirming the move, the situation has prompted urgent reflection within Nigerian athletics.
While the federation continues to monitor the situation, Okowa insists the wider lesson is the need for Nigeria to improve its approach to athlete management and investment.
“If Nigeria can invest more in athletes, it will go a long way,” Okowa told Making of Champs in an interview.
“We’re hearing that even countries in the Arab world are starting to do what Turkey is doing. The concern is not just about Ofili, it’s about the ones we haven’t heard about yet.”
“What we’ve read so far remains speculation, but if it turns out to be true, then Nigeria must step up when it comes to the welfare of athletes,” he added.
The 22-year-old sprinter, who recently set a world record in the 150m at the Adidas Atlanta City Games, is reportedly disillusioned with the Nigerian system.
She is said to have cited administrative lapses that affected her participation in previous Olympic Games as key reasons behind her decision.
Jamaican journalist Kayon Raynor reported that Ofili informed the Athletics Integrity Unit of her frustration with the AFN and the Nigeria Olympic Committee, referencing incidents at both the Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 Olympics.
Okowa, while acknowledging Ofili’s growing discontent, stressed that financial incentives from other nations have made Nigerian athletes increasingly vulnerable to switches.
“She’s an adult, and she’s working closely with her coach. Offers like these are hard to ignore,” he said.
“We’ve seen this before. Countries are offering money and citizenship, and it’s not just Nigeria being targeted.
“Jamaicans, Kenyans and others are also in talks to change allegiance. So we must understand this in the wider context.”
Turkey has reportedly ramped up efforts to recruit foreign athletes, reportedly offering up to $500,000 for a switch of allegiance.
The trend has drawn comparisons to previous high-profile cases involving Nigerian athletes such as Francis Obikwelu (Portugal), Gloria Alozie (Spain), and Femi Ogunode (Qatar), all of whom flourished under new flags after leaving Nigeria.
The AFN president revealed that he had personally made several attempts to reach out to Ofili, but communication had broken down.
“I’ve been trying to reach her. We had a strong relationship, even with her family. But suddenly, she blocked everyone. That was when I knew something was wrong,” he said.
World Athletics still lists Ofili as a Nigerian athlete, and no official change has been announced by the Turkish Athletics Federation. However, with the 2025 World Athletics Championships set to hold in Tokyo this September, her status remains in doubt.
Ofili is among the athletes who had secured qualification for the global event, but her potential absence could be another blow to Nigeria’s ambitions on the international stage.
Source: Punch
