Nigeria In Bid to Block Top Sprinter from Joining Brigid Kosgei in Multimillion Nationality Switch to Turkey

While other countries have reluctantly allowed their athletes to switch nationalities to Turkey in recent months, Nigeria is not letting one of its best leave without a fight.

In recent months, a number of African athletes and some from the Caribbean have opted to ditch their countries and switch to Turkey ahead of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

Turkey has been in a poaching spree and among those lured are five Kenyan athletes, led by former world marathon record holder Brigid Kosgei.

Kosgei admitted last month that she, alongside Ronald Kwemoi, the Olympic 5000m silver medallist, are among five Kenyan athletes who have accepted to switch allegiance to Turkey, the others being Catherine Amanang’ole, the reigning ADNOC Abu Dhabi Marathon champion, Brian Kibor and Nelvin Jepkemboi.

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With an eye on the LA 2028 Olympics, Turkey is reported to be offering life-changing incentives, including a $500,000 (Ksh64.5 million) signing bonus and substantial monthly stipends, to secure the athletes.

Why Nigeria is Stopping Ofili from Moving

Olympic discus champion Rojé Stona from Jamaica, Olympic shot-put medalists Rajindra Campbell also from the Caribbean nation and Nigerian sprinter Favour Ofili are among big names who agreed changed nationalities to Turkey last year while Favour Ashe, another Nigerian athlete, is reportedly on the move to Qatar.

However, while Athletics Kenya has reluctantly given its blessing to those switching, Nigeria is not letting it happen without a fight and is looking to block Ofili from moving to Turkey before the LA Olympics.

According to Nigeria’s National Sports Commission (NSC), Ofili is still not eligible to switch nationalities as she has been a recipient of state funding, which bars her from representing another country, until up to September 2028 just after the next Olympics.

“Ofili remains our athlete,” a NSC official told Nigerian outlet The Guardian. “She was among the elite athletes who were paid training grants by the NSC last year, and it is not possible for her to switch allegiance to Turkey.”

Nigerian Sprinter Keen on Turkey Switch

“If Ofili wants to compete for another country, she will have to wait until September 2028. That is the simple truth. We took our time to study the situation and have written to World Athletics to explain our stand regarding Ofili’s nationality switch,” the official further stated.

That would be a blow to Ofili who has had numerous issues with Nigeria, citing frustrations ahead of and during major championships which are part of what drove her to Turkey.

Based in the United States, Ofili is the only Nigerian woman to have dipped under 22 seconds in 200m as she holds the national record with a personal best of 21.96 seconds and has represented the West African nation at the three World Championships as well as the Paris 2024 Olympics.

According to the Olympic Charter, an athlete has to wait for three years after competing for one country before switching to another with Ofili having last represented Nigeria at the Paris 2024 Olympics.