Exclusive: Favour Ofili’s Allegiance Switch a Wake-Up Call for Nigeria, says Olusoji Fasuba

Former African 100 metre record holder Olusoji Fasuba believes Favour Ofili’s reported decision to switch international allegiance from Nigeria to Turkey is the result of sustained mistreatment, rather than financial motivation as popularly claimed, and says Nigeria must urgently rethink how it treats its athletes if it hopes to retain top talent.

The 22-year-old, Ofili, one of Nigeria’s most promising sprinters with personal bests of 10.93s (100m) and 21.96s (200m), is said to have informed the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) of her intent to represent Turkey, amid longstanding frustrations with the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN). This speculation spread like wildfire after news that the Athlete was poached for a sum of $500,000.

Recall that the news about Ofili’s switch broke out in June when veteran reporter Kenny Raynor told TVJ News Centre (a Jamaican news outlet) that the 22-year-old athlete informed the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) that her decision was not financially motivated but stemmed from her long-standing dissatisfaction with how Nigerian athletics officials had handled her career.

This sentiment was echoed by Fasuba, who told SportBoom.com in an exclusive interview that the issue is about respect, structure, and long-term support, not short-term financial gain. The former Olympian added that the handwriting has been on the wall for a long time.

“We’ve got to remove this idea that it’s always about money,” Fasuba said.

“It’s about treatment. When athletes feel neglected or disrespected, they lose their connection to the system, and that’s when they leave," he told SportsBoom.com.

It’s a systemic issue

Ofili has endured a string of disappointments in Nigerian colours. She was forced to miss the Tokyo 2020 Olympics due to a compliance failure by Nigerian athletics officials related to anti-doping rules, a blunder that saw 10 Nigerian athletes ruled ineligible.

More recently, she was omitted from the 100m at the just-concluded Paris 2024 Olympics, reportedly due to another administrative oversight, a move that deepened her disenchantment with the federation.

For UK-based Fasuba, these experiences reflect a systemic issue that risks turning a stream of disillusioned talent into a flood.

“If you want loyalty, you need to treat people like they matter. Give them reason to believe they’re part of something. It’s not about grand gestures two weeks before a national competition — it’s about consistent, meaningful support,” he added.

Fasuba, who won Commonwealth and African titles for Nigeria and held the continent’s 100m record for over a decade, points to his journey as evidence that investment and care can pay off. He says the backing he received from the Delta State government, including early employment and regular check-ins, made the difference.

“They tracked my progress, gave me a role, and followed through. That’s development. You don’t build a house from the roof. You need a foundation, and that starts with how you treat athletes at the grassroots level,” he said.

More are likely to follow Ofili’s footsteps

Fasuba then warned that more athletes in Africa are likely to follow in the footsteps of Ofili, seeing that most African countries have failed to care for what matters.

“Portugal, Spain, Turkey, and Qatar all have better programs in place. These countries sell stability, structure, and care. Until we match that, we will keep losing our best people.”

The AFN, along with other governing bodies like the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), has been frequently criticised for chaotic administration and a lack of athlete welfare. Fasuba says change must come from the top.

“Start with structure. Create real programs—not just cheques and camps before major events. If you do that, athletes with dual nationalities will start choosing Nigeria again. But right now, what’s the incentive?”

Ofili’s final switch to Turkey has yet to be formally confirmed by either federation, as the Athlete is still recognised as a Nigerian during her debut competition at the Diamond League, where she finished fifth at the Prefontaine Classic. She finished the race with an 11.09-second performance despite being an underdog.  

But Fasuba is clear that it’s a warning Nigeria cannot afford to ignore.

“If we keep papering over the cracks, we’ll lose an entire generation. It’s not about blaming athletes. It’s about creating something they want to be a part of.”

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