The Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) says it is taking urgent steps to improve athlete welfare following reports that sprint sensation Favour Ofili has begun the process of switching international allegiance to Turkey.
While the AFN has not issued an official confirmation regarding Ofili’s departure, officials say the news has sparked widespread concern and introspection within Nigeria’s athletics leadership. A top AFN official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the federation “cannot afford to keep losing world-class athletes” and will “intensify efforts to engage athletes, listen to their grievances, and address the gaps.”
Ofili’s reported move has reignited debate around the treatment of elite Nigerian athletes. In 2021, she was among the 14 Nigerian athletes ruled ineligible to compete at the Tokyo Olympics after the country failed to meet anti-doping testing requirements. In 2024, she was not registered to compete in the 100m at the Paris Diamond League despite meeting the qualification standard, an error that sparked criticism of AFN’s coordination.
The federation said it would soon roll out new structures to better support athletes’ training, competition schedules, and medical needs. “Athletes are the backbone of our success and must be treated as such,” an AFN statement added. “We are actively reviewing our processes to ensure no athlete feels neglected or unsupported.”
