Favour Ofili, 5 Other Nigerian Athletes Who Switched To Other Countries

When Favour Ofili blazed her way into the hearts of Nigerians with record-breaking sprints, the country thought it had found its next great track queen. But now, that same queen is walking away—not from the sport, but from Nigeria.

The 22-year-old sprint star has formally requested to switch her international allegiance to Turkey, leaving behind the green-white-green flag she once proudly represented.

Her decision is rooted in years of alleged neglect and administrative mismanagement by the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) and the Nigerian Olympic Committee (NOC).

Ofili’s tipping point came at the 2024 Paris Olympics, where, despite meeting the qualifying standard in the 100m, her name was mysteriously missing from the start list. The reason? A familiar Nigerian tale: paperwork failure.

This blunder mirrored another that happened in Tokyo 2020, where she was also denied the opportunity to compete due to similar incompetence.

For Ofili, lightning struck twice—but not on the track. It struck in the boardrooms of Nigerian sports bureaucracy.

Ofili is not just another fast runner. She is one of Nigeria’s brightest athletic exports, with personal bests of 10.93 seconds in the 100m and 21.96 seconds in the 200m—numbers that put her firmly in the elite global category.

Despite her talent and commitment, the recurring administrative chaos has now driven her to seek a more reliable support system under the Turkish flag.

Not the first, sadly not the last.
Ofili’s move might sting, but she is far from the first to feel let down by the system.

Here’s a look at five other Nigerian-born athletes who ditched the dysfunction and now shine for other countries:

Francis Obikwelu (Portugal)

Born in Nigeria, Obikwelu switched allegiance to Portugal after being frustrated with neglect by Nigerian sports authorities. He went on to win silver in the 100m at the 2004 Athens Olympics, becoming one of Europe’s top sprinters.

Tobi Amusan (Under consideration)

Though still representing Nigeria as of now, there have been whispers around the global track community that the reigning world champion and record-holder in the women’s 100m hurdles may be reconsidering her loyalty, especially following controversies with the AFN and doping procedural disputes.

Fikayo Tomori (England – Football)

Though a footballer, Tomori’s switch is symbolic. Born to Nigerian parents and eligible to play for Nigeria, the defender chose to represent England, citing better developmental structures and long-term vision—reasons that echo across multiple sports.

Yusuf Aminat Jamal – Bahrain

Formerly known as Aminat Yusuf, she now competes for Bahrain in the 800m and 1500m races. Like many others, her switch was driven by the need for better training conditions and career support.

Oluwakemi Adekoya (Bahrain)

The 400m hurdler and sprinter moved to Bahrain in 2014. Adekoya has since won multiple Asian Games medals and enjoyed a flourishing career—something she struggled to achieve under the Nigerian system.

Ofili’s decision is a loud warning siren: talent is no longer enough to keep loyalty. Without proper investment, organization, and respect for athletes, Nigeria risks becoming a breeding ground for other nations’ champions.