The dispute between Favour Ofili and Nigerian sports authorities has intensified following reports that the Nigerian Sports Commission is seeking to prevent her from representing Turkey at the 2028 Olympic Games.
Officials reportedly argue that Ofili remains tied to Nigeria after receiving a training grant in early 2025 and must complete the standard three-year waiting period before competing for another country. There are also suggestions that clearance could be delayed until after the 2028 Olympics, pending investigations.
Ofili has now publicly responded, explaining her decision to switch allegiance.
“I switched to Turkey to save my career from your incompetence,” she said. “It started in Japan, many of us were not registered after qualifying. Happened again in Paris. Yet they moved on like nothing happened. They set up a panel and do nothing. No apologies.”
She added that repeated administrative failures forced her to make a difficult decision.
“The people paid to look after us are the ones denying us from competing after a hard qualification,” Ofili said. “Mary Onyali was never denied from competing. I was. I am a woman. I don’t have time on my side. I had to run for my career and my family.”
The situation follows controversy surrounding her Olympic registration and broader tensions with the Athletics Federation of Nigeria, which had previously suggested it would not oppose a nationality switch.
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