Amid swirling rumors of a potential nationality switch, the Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Hon. Bukola Olopade, has firmly clarified that Nigerian sprint star Favour Ofili remains committed to representing Nigeria.
Speaking during a World Press Conference held on Wednesday in Abuja ahead of the Confederation of African Athletics U-18 and U-20 Championships, Olopade dismissed speculation that Ofili had switched allegiance to Turkey.
The DG, who also chairs the event’s Local Organising Committee, stated, “Favour Ofili is still representing Nigeria. She wrote to the NSC two months ago, reaffirming her commitment to compete for Nigeria.”
He added that upon his appointment, he reached out to Ofili directly. “When I resumed as DG of NSC, I called her personally, and she confirmed her allegiance to Nigeria,” he revealed.
Ofili is one of 69 athletes who received financial support through NSC grants in April 2025, underscoring her active involvement in national sports development programs. The NSC emphasized that no formal notice of any nationality switch has been received from World Athletics or any national or international sports body.
This public clarification follows widespread reports that the record-breaking sprinter—currently the 150m world record holder—was considering a transfer to represent Turkey. Her possible defection had triggered debate within Nigeria’s athletic community, given the long-standing challenges top athletes face with inadequate support and funding.
President of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), Tonobok Okowa, expressed his dismay: “If this is true, it is sad, disheartening and painful,” he said. “She is old enough to decide what’s best, but we have tried to keep her.”
If Ofili were to change nationality, she would face a three-year eligibility wait under World Athletics rules, having competed for Nigeria at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Despite the buzz, World Athletics still officially lists Ofili as a Nigerian athlete, and she remains part of Nigeria’s qualifying team for the upcoming World Championships in Tokyo (September 13–21, 2025).
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