Sports

Nigerian Sprinter Favour Ofili Seeks to Represent Turkey

Nigerian sprinter Favour Ofili has formally submitted a request to switch her international allegiance to Turkey, citing years of alleged neglect and administrative failures by Nigerian sports authorities.

The 22-year-old athlete, who boasts impressive personal bests of 10.93 seconds in the 100m and 21.96 seconds in the 200m, has officially notified the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) of her decision and the reasons behind it.

Administrative Failures at Paris Olympics

One of the key incidents that reportedly influenced Ofili's decision occurred during the 2024 Olympics in Paris, France. Despite having met the qualifying standard, she was excluded from the 100m event due to the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) and the Nigerian Olympic Committee (NOC) failing to submit her name for the competition.

This administrative error was not an isolated incident. According to sources, it mirrored a similar blunder that cost Ofili a spot at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, establishing a pattern of organizational failures that has frustrated the athlete.

A Rising Star Seeking New Opportunities

Ofili is considered one of Nigeria's most promising track stars. Her decision to seek representation under the Turkish flag represents a significant loss for Nigerian athletics, which has struggled with administrative issues in recent years.

The sprinter's move comes at a time when several Nigerian athletes have voiced concerns about support structures and administrative competence within the country's sporting bodies.

Neither the AFN nor the NOC has issued an official statement regarding Ofili's decision to switch allegiance as of the time of this report.

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