Nigeria’s National Sports Commission has initiated official procedures to prevent sprint sensation Favour Ofili from completing her requested change of athletic nationality to Turkey, thereby laying the groundwork for a potential dispute with international sports officials.
Ofili is still officially recognised as a Nigerian athlete and bound to the nation under current rules, a senior commission official confirmed.
According to reports, the commission has contacted World Athletics to clarify its stance and maintains that no change of allegiance will come into effect until September 2028.
One of Nigeria’s most consistent performers on the world stage, Ofili, who holds the country’s 200-metre record at 21.96 seconds, has competed at world championships, the Commonwealth Games, and the Olympic Games.
For many, her decision to seek a new flag was seen as a significant loss for Nigerian athletics.
The News Chronicle notes that the commission’s action is intended to safeguard what it calls a long-term national investment in elite athletes, especially those who have benefited from institutional support and training grants.
The rise follows Mary Onyali, an athletic legend, disclosing she declined several offers to represent other countries throughout her career in favour of remaining devoted to Nigeria despite the chances overseas.
Authorities also dismissed rumours that another sprinter, Favour Ashe, might take the same route, citing continuous talks.
