Nigeria’s athletics is losing some of its brightest athletes, and the signs are hard to ignore. As Favour Ofili chided to represent Turkey we see just how deep the problems run.
When news broke that Nigerian sprinter Favour Ofili was switching her international allegiance to Turkey, it sparked renewed scrutiny of the country’s troubled sports administration. Though not yet officially confirmed by World Athletics, the move appears to be the culmination of a long-standing pattern of administrative failings, broken trust, and deep frustration.
Considered one of Nigeria’s brightest stars on the track, Ofili’s reported defection signals far more than a personal decision — it is a symptom of a nation failing its female athletes.
A story of neglect and disappointment
Favour Ofili’s recent Olympic heartbreak was a painful echo of past failures. Despite qualifying for both the 100 m and 200 m events at the Paris 2024 Olympics, Ofili was only entered into one race — the 200 m. She was inexplicably left out of the 100 m event, reportedly due to negligence by the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN). This error mirrored the debacle at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, where Ofili and other Nigerian athletes were barred from competing after the Nigerian Olympic Committee failed to fund the required number of doping tests.
The recurring pattern of mismanagement has chipped away at the trust athletes once placed in the institutions meant to support them. Even when officials offer restitution — as they did when Ofili received a consolation sum of approximately $5,000 — the damage is already done. The psychological toll, the lost opportunities, and the humiliation of watching others compete in your rightful place on the global stage are not easily forgotten.
A widening trend of athletic migration
Ofili’s case is not isolated. In recent years, several Nigerian-born athletes have sought better opportunities elsewhere. At the 2024 Paris Olympics, several Nigerian-born female athletes achieved remarkable success under other national flags.
Yemisi Ogunleye, born in Germany to a Nigerian father, claimed gold in the women’s shot put — Germany’s first in the event since 1996. Salwa Eid Naser, originally Ebelechukwu Agbapuonwu from Nigeria, took silver in the women’s 400 m representing Bahrain. Annette Echikunwoke, born in Ohio to Nigerian parents, secured silver in the women’s hammer throw while competing for the United States — the first U.S. Olympic medal in that event.
Additionally, Victoria Ohuruogu, of Nigerian descent and representing Great Britain, earned bronze as part of the women’s 4 × 400 m relay team. Yemi Mary John, another athlete of Nigerian heritage, also contributed to that bronze-winning relay squad for Great Britain. Not only at the 2024 Paris Olympics, numerous Nigerian athletes have excelled under other countries over the years on the global stage.
Their reasons for representing other countries are often the same: better support structures, stable funding, reliable coaching, and respect. Where Nigeria has faltered, other nations have stepped in to nurture and empower the very talents that once flew the Nigerian flag. The resulting talent drain is not only a national embarrassment; it is a warning of what lies ahead if nothing changes.
Read also: The resilience of Nigerian sportswomen at the Paris 2024 Olympics
The plight of Nigerian female athletes
Female athletes in Nigeria bear a particular burden. While many male athletes have the option of lucrative endorsements or international training placements, their female counterparts often find themselves navigating a system riddled with neglect and discrimination. From inadequate medical care to late payments — or no payments at all — the institutional failures are both numerous and deeply entrenched.
In Ofili’s case, these shortcomings were not merely inconvenient; they were career-stifling. The opportunity to compete on the world’s greatest stage was stolen from her not by injury or poor form, but by administrative negligence. It’s no wonder, then, that when asked about Ofili’s dissatisfaction, AFN President Tonobok Okowa simply replied, “It is clear that she had been preparing and working on her newfound Turkish love. She is old enough to decide what’s best for her.” The message was loud and clear: Nigeria is not ready to fight for its best talents.
Each defection represents not just a personal loss, but a national one. When Nigerian-born athletes win medals for other countries, it chips away at the nation’s sporting legacy and erodes the morale of aspiring talents at home. Sponsors, already wary of instability, grow more hesitant to invest. And the cycle of decline deepens.
More dangerously, it sends a signal to young athletes: “If you want to succeed, leave.” This message could hollow out Nigeria’s future sporting potential, with only the most privileged or lucky able to rise through a broken system.
A call for reform and accountability
There is still time to course-correct. However, it will require more than apologies and token gestures. Nigeria’s athletic institutions must undergo a deep structural transformation. Transparent funding mechanisms, timely testing protocols, athlete-focused governance, and meaningful engagement with talent must become the new norm.
Importantly, female athletes must be accorded the support, respect, and dignity they deserve. Until that happens, defections like Ofili’s will continue, and Nigeria’s sporting dreams will remain deferred.
Ofili’s departure is more than a personal choice; it is a national reckoning. It is a warning that talent alone is no longer enough to secure loyalty. Without meaningful investment, competent organisation, and genuine respect for female athletes, Nigeria risks becoming little more than a training ground. The starting point for champions who ultimately win for other nations. Without urgent reform, the country risks losing not just a generation of athletes but a vital part of its national pride and potential.
