Wednesday, September 3, 2025 - Sprinter, Favour Ofili, has confirmed she will now represent Turkey, bringing an end to her international career with Nigeria.
The announcement comes a day after the Athletics Federation
of Nigeria (AFN) named its 15-member squad for the 2025 World Athletics
Championships in Tokyo, with Ofili missing from the list.
The 22-year-old, who holds the Nigerian women’s 200m record
at 21.96s, announced the decision via her social media accounts.
“I am proud to have represented Nigeria for many years in a
highly successful way. Having won six gold medals, two silver medals and two
bronze medals in championship meets, and being a 200m Olympic finalist, while
experiencing the biggest disappointments from AFN and NOC for their negligence
towards me in two Olympics (Tokyo and Paris), I have made this decision,” Ofili
wrote.
She added: “While that means sitting out this year’s
championship in Tokyo, this change comes from the heart, not from financial
motives. I’m truly grateful to have discovered a new home in Turkey. I’m
excited for what’s ahead and grateful for all the support I got from my coach,
agent, sponsor @adidas and my loved ones during this difficult time.”
Ofili’s switch means she will not compete at the World
Championships in Tokyo but will be eligible to run for Turkey from 2027.
She represented Nigeria at major global events, including
the 2019 Youth Olympics, World Championships in Doha and Budapest, the 202
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