Ofili exits Nigeria after Olympic heartbreaks, says: ‘I’m truly grateful to have discovered a new home in Turkey’

Nigerian sprint star Favour Ofili has announced a major shift in her athletic career, confirming her decision to represent Turkey going forward.

In a heartfelt statement shared via her Instagram page, Ofili reflected on a season filled with growth, challenges, and a pivotal change in national allegiance.

‘Wrapping up my 2025 season has been a whirlwind of new experiences and big decisions. Racing back-to-back across amazing cities and learning from the best has been incredible,’ she wrote.

Ofili, a six-time gold medalist and Olympic 200m finalist, expressed pride in her achievements while representing Nigeria, but cited deep disappointment with the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) and the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) for their repeated administrative failures.

She referenced her exclusion from two Olympic Games—Tokyo and Paris, despite qualifying, attributing the setbacks to negligence.

‘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 a 200 meter Olympic finalist while experiencing the biggest disappointment from AFN and NOC… I have made this decision,’ she stated.

Ofili emphasized that her switch to Turkey was not financially motivated, but rather a personal and emotional choice.

‘This change comes from the heart,’ she wrote, confirming she will sit out this year’s championship in Tokyo.

She concluded with gratitude for her support system.

‘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.’