The Athletics Federation of Nigeria says it won’t stand in the way of Favour Ofili’s reported decision to switch allegiance to Turkey, despite the development coming as a surprise to the body.

AFN president Tonobok Okowa said he was “shocked” by the news, which surfaced three months before the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo.

“If this is true, it is sad, disheartening and painful,” Okowa said. “But we are yet to get any official statement from her or any correspondence from World Athletics.”

Ofili, 22, is reportedly disillusioned with how the Nigerian system has handled her career, informing the Athletics Integrity Unit of her frustrations.

Okowa admitted that the federation had let her down “on different occasions,” but noted the athlete had also received a training grant this year.

“She is old enough to decide what’s best for her, but it is painful and hard to take for us,” he said. “However, we will not stop her. She is still our child, sister and daughter.”

The federation offered an apology “to Nigerians, the National Sports Commission and the millions of people around the world who hold the sport and country in high esteem.”

Ofili is still listed as a Nigerian athlete on the World Athletics website and remains one of Nigeria’s qualifiers for the Tokyo championships, set for September 13–21.

Turkey, which has actively recruited athletes in recent years, is said to offer up to $500,000 to foreign stars willing to switch nationality.

Nigeria has lost several top athletes in the past, including Francis Obikwelu, Gloria Alozie and Femi Ogunode.