No official communication from Favour Ofili on Alleged Switch to Turkey, Says NSC

The National Sports Commission (NSC) has officially denied receiving any communication from Nigerian sprinter Favour Ofili concerning reports that she has switched her international allegiance to Turkey.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Commission clarified that it has not been notified, either formally or informally, of any intention by Ofili to compete for another country.

“The National Sports Commission wishes to state clearly that it has not received any official communication from Favour Ofili or her representatives regarding a change of allegiance to Turkey or any other country,” the statement read.

The reaction comes amid growing speculation that the U.S.-based athlete, one of Nigeria’s top track talents, was considering representing Turkey following recent administrative challenges and reported neglect by Nigerian athletics authorities.

Ofili, who represented Nigeria at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and has set multiple national records in the 200m and 400m, was controversially left off Nigeria’s sprint team list at a key international event earlier this year despite meeting qualification standards.

The incident sparked outrage among fans and sports analysts, with calls for accountability within the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN).

The NSC’s clarification appears aimed at quelling concerns over the country’s continued loss of top athletes to other nations, a trend that has recently seen several Nigerian-born competitors switch allegiances due to limited support and administrative lapses at home.

The Commission urged the public to treat the reports with caution, stressing that the process of switching national allegiance in athletics is governed by strict World Athletics regulations, which require both official notification and clearance from the concerned national bodies.

Favour Ofili has yet to publicly comment on the issue.