“She’s Difficult To Deal With” – AFN Reacts To Favour Ofili’s Decision To Dump Nigeria For Turkey

The President of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), Tonobok Okowa says sprinter Favour Ofili is free to make her own decisions if she chooses to compete for another country.

Over the weekend, rumors spread on social media claiming that the 22-year-old has written to the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) to switch her allegiance to Turkey.

The reports allege that Favour Ofili cited her ongoing frustration with the AFN, particularly during international competitions, as her reason for changing nationality.

However, a check on the World Athletics website shows that Favour Ofili is still listed as a Nigerian athlete.

Speaking on the matter, Okowa said he had no prior knowledge of Ofili’s alleged request and only heard about it through media reports.

He noted that neither the AFN nor World Athletics had received any official notice from the athlete.

Okowa added that both the AFN and the National Sports Commission (NSC) have been working hard to improve sports in Nigeria, and that Ofili had already received her training grant for the year.

The AFN president also acknowledged that while it’s difficult to see her go, she is old enough to make her own choices.

“If this is true, it is sad, disheartening and painful but we are yet to get any official statement from her or any correspondence from World Athletics (WA), on her request. She is a promising athlete with huge potential,” he said.

“The AFN and the National Sports Commission (NSC) have been working hard to get athletics and other sports in the country back on track and to show that both bodies are matching goals, objectives and words with action. Favour Ofili had already been paid her training grant for this year.

“From the moves we have been making to get her fully prepared and back to the big athletics family, and her response, it’s also clear that she had been preparing and working on her newfound Turkish love.

“She is old enough to decide what’s best for her, but it’s painful and hard to take for us; however, we will not stop her. She is still our child, sister and daughter.”

Okowa admitted that communication between Ofili and the AFN broke down after the 2024 Paris Olympics.

He said the federation had tried to repair the relationship, but those efforts were unsuccessful.

“Despite our own inadequacies, on several occasions she shunned the national trials, and even when she came, she selected the events she preferred to compete in,” the statement added.

“No doubt Ofili is one of best our athletes in recent times but she is difficult to deal with.

“The AFN has its issues, but we are getting along well with other top athletes and are still thriving within the system. We wish her well in whatever she is doing and wherever she is going.”

During the 2024 Paris Olympics, Ofili faced controversy when her name was initially left off the list for a key race despite having qualified.

Though she eventually competed in the women’s 200m final, the 22-year-old sprinter finished sixth.

This wasn’t her first Olympic setback as she was also among the ten Nigerian athletes disqualified from the Tokyo 2020 Games after the AFN failed to meet anti-doping requirements.

If Ofili does switch nationality, she will join a growing list of Nigerian athletes who have left the country in search of better opportunities.

Notable examples include Gloria Alozie (Spain), Francis Obikwelu (Portugal), Femi Ogunode (Qatar), and more recently, Annette Echikunwoke, who now competes for the United States and won silver in the women’s hammer throw at the Paris Olympics.

While Favour Ofili’s switch is yet to be confirmed, the situation adds to the long-standing concerns about athlete management and support within Nigerian sports.

KanyiDaily recalls that Favour Ofili broke down in tears after finishing sixth in the women’s 200 meters final at the 2024 Paris Olympics after blaming Nigerian Athletics authorities over her inability to compete in the 100-meter race at the event.