Nigerian track and field is experiencing a paradoxical situation where homegrown talents are leaving to represent foreign federations, while athletes trained abroad are choosing to compete for Nigeria.
The Nigerian track and field scene is facing an unsettling trend as several of its star athletes are making the decision to represent foreign nations. This growing exodus is exemplified by the case of Favour Ofili, a significant figure in Nigerian sprinting, who made headlines in September 2025 by officially switching her allegiance to Turkey after being notably omitted from the 100m event at the Paris 2024 Olympics. This led to a national outcry, particularly after a series of administrative failures, which Ofili cited as the reason for her departure. Despite efforts by the Nigerian National Sports Commission to retain her, this marks a disheartening loss for the country's sports ambitions, particularly with the imminent LA 2028 Olympics on the horizon.
