Favour Ofili Still Represents Nigeria, Says Sports Commission DG Amid Turkey Allegiance Rumours

The Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Hon. Bukola Olopade, has reaffirmed that Favour Ofili is still a Nigerian athlete, dismissing recent reports suggesting she had switched allegiance to Turkey.

Olopade, who also chairs the Local Organising Committee, made the clarification on Wednesday during a World Press Conference ahead of the Confederation of African Athletics U-18 and U-20 Championships in Abuja.

“Favour Ofili is still representing Nigeria. She wrote to the NSC two months ago, reaffirming her commitment to compete for Nigeria,” Olopade said. “When I resumed as DG of NSC, I personally called her and she confirmed her allegiance to Nigeria.”

He added that Ofili is among 69 athletes who received financial grants from the commission in April 2025, highlighting her continued involvement in Nigeria’s sports development.

“As far as the NSC is concerned, there has been no official communication from any international federation or national body indicating a change of nationality. She remains a Nigerian athlete,” he said.

His comments come in response to widespread speculation that Ofili, a national champion and international medallist, was in the process of transferring her allegiance to Turkey — a claim the NSC has firmly denied.

The rumours have stirred debate within Nigeria’s athletics community, especially given Ofili’s status as the women’s 150m world record holder and one of the country’s top medal contenders for major global competitions.