Exodus Looms: More Nigerian Athletes poised to follow Ofili’s path amid AFN discontent
The Nigerian athletics community is bracing for a potential wave of defections as several elite athletes are reportedly preparing to switch national allegiance, following in the footsteps of sprint sensation Favour Ofili.
The 22-year-old, who holds Nigeria’s national 200m record and the world best in the 150m, recently filed to represent Turkey, citing years of frustration with the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN).
Ofili’s grievances echo a broader sentiment among Nigerian athletes: neglect, mismanagement, and a lack of basic support. She was one of 10 athletes barred from competing at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics due to Nigeria’s failure to meet anti-doping compliance standards.
At the Paris 2024 Games, despite qualifying, she was inexplicably left out of the 100m event—a decision that left her in tears and further eroded trust in the federation.
Sources close to Sportsnow.com.ng suggest that more athletes have already initiated the process of switching allegiance, disillusioned by the federation’s chronic administrative failures.
Complaints range from athletes having to reuse worn kits while their international peers receive full sponsorship packages, to allegations of financial misappropriation—such as the reported diversion of sponsorship funds during the 2023 World Athletics Championships.
AFN President Tonobok Okowa, now in his second term, has denied receiving official notice of Ofili’s switch but admitted efforts to reconcile with her have failed. Critics argue that under his leadership, the federation has failed to secure a single kit or equipment sponsor in four years, despite Nigeria’s rich talent pool and global presence in athletics.
The case of former national champion Seye Ogunlewe, who was controversially omitted from Nigeria’s Olympic team despite meeting qualification standards, remains a sore point for many. It underscores what insiders describe as a culture of favoritism and opaque selection processes within the AFN.
With Turkey reportedly offering financial incentives of up to $500,000 to athletes willing to switch allegiance, the exodus may only be beginning.
If the AFN fails to address these systemic issues, Nigeria risks losing not just medals—but the very soul of its athletics future.
