President of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria, Tonobok Okowa, has insisted that Favour Ofili’s decision to switch allegiance from Nigeria to Turkey was financially motivated, contrary to the athlete’s claims.
Okowa, in an interview with ESPN, explained that both World Athletics and the sprinter had communicated the decision to them.
“They have officially informed us. Both World Athletics and the athlete herself,” he said.
However, he reportedly dismissed Ofili’s explanation that her move was due to repeated negligence by Nigerian sports administrators at the Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Instead, he said her choice was purely financial.
“Ofili herself knows the whole truth. This is all about money. She and her coach are trying to make some money,” Okowa told ESPN.
The AFN boss added that he had no objection to Ofili’s personal choice but took issue with the reasons she publicly gave.
“I don’t see anything wrong with that, but as far as I am concerned, if she wants to go, it’s okay. She’s an adult, but she should stop using these reasons as her excuse,” he said.
Okowa also drew attention to other athletes who have switched allegiance to Turkey in recent times.
“Okay, the Kenyans and Jamaicans that are going to Turkey, what reasons do they have? Let her go in peace. She’s an adult; she has the right to make her decision if she wants to switch allegiance or not,” he said.
Ofili had announced on social media that she would now represent Turkey after years of competing for Nigeria, citing disappointment with the AFN and the Nigeria Olympic Committee as the main reason for her decision.
She highlighted her exclusion from competition in Tokyo due to missed tests and the failure to register her for the women’s 100m event in Paris as major frustrations.
The 22-year-old, who holds the world record in the women’s 150m, stressed that her switch was heartfelt rather than financially driven. “I have made this decision. While that means sitting out this year’s championship in Tokyo, this change comes from the heart, not from financial motives,” she said in her statement.
Her defection adds to Nigeria’s long list of athletes who have switched nationalities in the past, including Francis Obikwelu, Gloria Alozie, Florence Ekpo-Umoh, Salwa Eid Naser and Femi Ogunode, many of whom went on to flourish under their new flags.
