According to Premium Times, Nigerian sprinter Favour Ofili officially switched allegiance to Turkey after citing systemic neglect and repeated administrative failures by the Athletics Federation of Nigeria. This broken baton moment reflects years of missed opportunities, including her exclusion from the Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 100m heats.
- Ofili competed for Nigeria in Paris 2024 but missed the 100m event due to federation errors.
- She may face a 3-year ban before competing for Turkey unless granted an exemption.
- AFN failed to act on committee recommendations, including a $5,000 compensation and a formal apology.
- Turkey is aggressively recruiting global athletes, offering signing bonuses and incentives.
Broken baton moments don’t just happen on the track; they happen in broken systems, too. Favour’s switch isn’t just a flag change; it’s a cry against structural failure that left a world-class athlete unsupported and unheard.
