President of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), Tonobok Okowa, has responded to reports that Nigerian sprint sensation Favour Ofili is seeking to switch international allegiance, saying the 22-year-old is “old enough to decide what’s best for her”.
Speculation surfaced on Sunday suggesting that Ofili had written to the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) to initiate a nationality change. In reaction, Okowa expressed surprise, admitting the federation had not been formally notified.
“If this is true, it is sad, disheartening and painful but we are yet to get any official statement from her or any correspondence from World Athletics (WA), on her request. She is a promising athlete with huge potential,” the AFN president said.
“The AFN and the National Sports Commission (NSC) have been working hard to get athletics and other sports in the country back on track and to show that both bodies are matching goals, objectives and words with action. Favour Ofili had already been paid her training grant for this year.”
Okay.ng reports that Okowa also noted Ofili’s recent behaviour may have signalled a looming departure.
“From the moves we have been making to get her fully prepared and back to the big athletics family, and her response, it’s also clear that she had been preparing and working on her newfound Turkish love. She is old enough to decide what’s best for her, but it’s painful and hard to take for us; however, we will not stop her. She is still our child, sister and daughter.”
The federation chief further revealed that communication with Ofili has broken down since the Paris Olympics, complicating efforts to mend fences.
“Despite our own inadequacies, on several occasions she shunned the national trials, and even when she came, she selected the events she preferred to compete in,” the statement continued. “No doubt Ofili is one of best our athletes in recent times but she is difficult to deal with.”
Ofili, a rising star in track and field, holds national records and has been a standout representative for Nigeria in global competitions. As of now, no official confirmation has come from World Athletics, and Ofili is still listed as a Nigerian athlete.
