AFN not worried by Ofili’s rumoured move to dump Nigeria

The Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) says it has capable athletes to fill the vacuum should U.S.-based sprinter, Favour Ofili, decide to switch allegiance from Nigeria to another country.

The relationship between Ofili and the AFN became strained at the just-concluded Paris 2024 Olympics following the disappearance of her name from the list that the federation submitted for the women’s 100m event.

While the AFN maintained its innocence, saying it listed Ofili for the 100m, 200m and the 4x100m relay at the Games, the athlete says that the federation should be held responsible.

An online media report indicated that Ofili is considering switching allegiance  to another country, just like hammer thrower and Paris 2024 Olympics silver medalist, Annette Nneka Echikunwoke, did following a similar administrative oversight, which prevented her from competing for Team Nigeria at Tokyo Olympics.

An AFN official told The Guardian, yesterday, that the federation would not stop Ofili from actualising her alleged plan, saying: “If truly Ofili is considering switching her allegiance from Nigeria to another country, it might be difficult for the AFN to prevent her. But Ofili must know some of the technicalities involved in such move because World Athletics’ rules state that for an athlete to be eligible to compete for another country, he/she must stay away from any athletics competition for a period of three years. It means Ofili will not compete in any athletics event between now and late 2027.

“Ofili is fast becoming an uncontrollable athlete for the AFN. There are certain things we have been trying to keep away from the public concerning Ofili. At the World Athletics Championships in Oregon, United States in 2022, Ofili refused to