Abuja, Nigeria – Chai! Wetin we go call this one? Nigerian sprinter and the 150m world record holder, Favour Ofili, don japa (run away) go Turkey, just three months before the 2025 World Athletics Championships wey go happen for Tokyo. According to reports from PUNCH Online, this shocking gist first land from Kayon Raynor, the Jamaican journalist wey dey give us juicy updates.
As per the gist, Ofili go Turkey since May 31, 2025, because she dey vex (angry) with the Nigerian Athletics Federation (AFN) for the way dem dey manage her career. E no go sweet to hear say she miss Olympic Games because dem no gree confirm her doping test na. Wetin dem dey do sef?
Part of the wahala wey make Favour vex be say, she no fit run for her 100m event for Paris 2024 Olympics too. E pain am well well! The girl even manage run the 200m but she end up as sixth. Talk about bad luck!
For im statement, Favour tell the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) say her move to Turkey no be money matter oh. This girl get talent, she no need to chase any money. But e be like say Turkey dey lure plenty athletes with big money wey fit reach $500,000 just to switch allegiance. Na wah oo! This no be play play matter at all.
Even though she don change side, World Athletics still dey list Ofili as Nigerian athlete on their website. (E be like say dem dey delay her transfer or wetin?) She still be part of those wey don qualify for the World Championships wey go dey happen for Tokyo from September 13 to 21. But one question wey we need to ask be, ‘How she go fit represent Turkey now if she still dey under Nigeria for their list?’
If you look the whole situation, this no be the first time Nigerian athletes dey japa go other countries because dem dey fumble. People don see talents like Francis Obikwelu wey shift go Portugal, and Gloria Alozie wey move go Spain. The disturbing thing be say most of these athletes dey excel after dem japa. Wetin Nigeria dey do about their sports system?
As for Ofili, she don already make history by breaking the world record for the 150m with time of 15.85 seconds at the Adidas Atlanta City Games in May. Na this kind speed wey we need for Nigeria o!
Now we dey watch as the drama unfold. If Ofili fit convince World Athletics body say na because of AFN wahala make she move, dem fit gree make she no obey the waiting period rule wey dey dey. But that one na big if. For now, we fit just drink palm wine and watch how everything go play out.
So wetin you think about Favour Ofili transfer matter? Will she make waves for Turkey or na just talk? We dey here to follow the gist as e dey unfold!
