The Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) says it was not behind World Athletics’ decision to block Favour Ofili’s switch of nationality allegiance to Turkey.
In a chat with TheCable on Friday, Maxwell Kumoye, AFN
spokesperson, dispelled reports that the federation attempted to block Ofili’s
switch, adding that World Athletics (WA) reached its verdict based on
independent findings.
On Thursday, the WA’s national review panel rejected Ofili’s
application to become an athlete of the Turkish Athletics Federation (TAF).
Ofili was one of eleven foreign athletes whose applications
were submitted by Turkey to the WA for allegiance switch.
All eleven athletes were blocked by the world athletics
governing body.
Clarifying the ruling, Kumoye said Ofili’s case was not
different from the remaining athletes on the list, adding that their
applications were rejected for the same reason.
“It is not only about Ofili, but there were also ten other
athletes who made similar requests from the Turkish athletics federation,” the
AFN spokesperson said.
“The same reason they rejected Ofili’s request is the same
reason they rejected for four Jamaicans, five Kenyans, and one Ukrainian.
“The four key points World Athletics mentioned for rejecting
Ofili and others’ nationality switch are critical.”
“The World Athletics cited the need to encourage talent
development, maintain opportunities for homegrown talent, and ensure fairness
and competition integrity, a move AFN official said protects local talent
unlike the free flow of nationality switch in football that deprives Nigeria
and other African countries of top talents.
“Let me bring the case to a local perspective. Look at what
FIFA is doing that is killing local talent who goes to Europe, only to become a
European national team player.
“Imagine the way the Super Eagles will line up if the way
World Athletics is handling it is the same way FIFA is handling nationality
switch, from Karim Adeyemi to Manuel Akanji. Look at what the Cameroon national
team would look like with Kylian Mbappe and Hugo Ekitike.
“That is what the World Athletics is trying to avoid, [they
are] trying to help the homegrown talent to foster, let other countries develop
their own talent too. World Athletics is not thinking about the money, but for
each country to develop their own and compete at the same level.”
Ofili began the process of her nationality switch in 2025.
She has had a long-standing run-in with the AFN, mainly due to administrative
errors.
She could not participate in the Tokyo Olympics because the
Nigerian Olympic authorities failed to inform her of the minimum drug-testing
requirements for competing.
The 23-year-old sprinter was also prevented from
representing Nigeria in the women’s 100m race four years later at the Paris
2024 Olympics, after AFN failed to submit her name for the event despite
qualifying.
The AFN spokesperson said that the federation will meet with
Ofili within the next week and try to convince her to return to representing
Nigeria for future events
“The federation will keep encouraging her [Ofili]. The
technical director of AFN spoke extensively on the need to psyche her up,”
Kumoye said.
“Within the next week or so, they will call her and talk to
her. There are two major opportunities available this year [to represent
Nigeria again]: the African Championships and the Commonwealth Games. She has
missed the Relay championships, which she would ordinarily be part of.”
Ofili has been one of Nigeria’s top sprinters. In May 2025,
she broke the world record for women’s 150 meters.
Turkey is expected to challenge WA’s ruling on allegiance
switch at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
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