Setback for Favour Ofili: World Athletics Blocks Switch to Turkey Ahead of 2028 Olympics

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Nigerian sprint star Favour Ofili has suffered a major career setback after World Athletics rejected her request to switch allegiance to Turkey, ruling her ineligible to compete for the country at the 2028 Olympic Games.

The decision, delivered by the World Athletics Nationality Review Panel, brings an abrupt halt to Ofili’s plans to represent Turkey on the global stage despite months of preparation and speculation.

In its ruling, the panel made it clear that the application submitted by the Türkiye Athletics Federation would not be approved, citing broader concerns about the integrity of international athletics.

Favour Ofili had announced her intention to change nationality in September 2025, pointing to frustrations with the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) and the Nigeria Olympic Committee over alleged administrative challenges affecting her career.

However, World Athletics raised red flags over what it described as a growing trend of aggressive recruitment of foreign athletes by some countries ahead of major competitions like the Olympics.

The panel warned that approving such transfers could encourage a system where nations “buy” top talents, ultimately undermining fair competition and national representation in athletics.

Despite reportedly obtaining Turkish citizenship and aligning with a club in Turkey, Ofili will remain officially recognized as a Nigerian athlete and cannot compete for Turkey in international events, including the Olympics and World Championships.

The 23-year-old remains one of Nigeria’s brightest track prospects, having set a national record in the 200 metres and reached the Olympic final at the Paris 2024 Games.

The decision has reignited conversations across Nigeria’s sports community, with many pointing to long-standing concerns around athlete welfare, management issues, and the reasons some athletes consider switching allegiance.

For now, Favour Ofili is expected to continue competing for Nigeria, though uncertainty lingers over her future relationship with local athletics authorities.

As the road to the 2028 Olympics continues, this ruling could shape how similar nationality transfer cases are handled — not just for Nigerian athletes, but across global sports.

More updates will follow as the story develops.