As more stars flee the system, the country continues to lose talent to nations that offer what it doesn’t: support.

Another one gone, it seems.

Nigerian sprint star Favour Ofili has reportedly initiated the process of switching her international allegiance from Nigeria to Turkey, filing her request with the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) on May 31. While not yet official, the move is symbolic of the devastating trend in Nigerian athletics, one where talent is not lost to injury or form, but to neglect.

For years, 22-year-old Ofili has stood out as one of Nigeria’s brightest prospects in the 200m and 400m events, but sources suggest her decision stems from persistent frustrations with the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN): inadequate support, poor planning, and administrative disarray. She’s not the first. And she won’t be the last.

A Growing List of Departures

Abbas Abubakar (Now Bahrain)

A 400m prodigy, Abbas emerged on the Nigerian scene at the 2012 National Sports Festival, finishing second in the final at just 16. By 2014, he was already winning bronze at the World Junior Championships, clocking a superb 45.17s in the semifinals, the fastest by any Nigerian junior in years. But without the right structure or investment from home, Abbas took his talent elsewhere. In Bahrain, he’s gone on to win Asian Games silver and become one of the region’s fastest-ever quarter-milers. Nigeria never saw him fulfil his potential; Bahrain did.

Femi Ogunode (Now Qatar)

Once a Lagos-born sprinter, Femi Ogunode has become a sprint powerhouse for Qatar. He won two gold medals (100m and 200m) at the 2010 Asian Games, setting championship records in both. His switch to Qatar, like many others, was driven by the lack of structure in Nigeria’s athletics framework. With access to better facilities and support, Ogunode flourished, proof that it wasn’t the athlete that needed fixing; it was the system that failed him.

Kemi Adekoya (Now Bahrain)

Formerly a promising Nigerian hurdler, Kemi Adekoya moved to Bahrain and almost instantly became one of Asia’s most dominant female athletes. She clinched gold at the 2014 Asian Games in the 400m hurdles and continues to represent her adopted country on the global stage. Nigeria’s loss was Bahrain’s massive gain.

And now, Favour Ofili appears to be on the same path, a world-class talent exiting a country that refused to prioritise her.

A Pattern, Not an Exception

Nigeria’s Athletics Federation has long been mired in chaos, from missing kits at the Olympics to the now-infamous disqualification of 10 athletes at the Tokyo 2021 Games due to failed doping compliance paperwork. Athletes are often left scrambling for visas, without coaches or proper medical support, and subjected to endless administrative delays.

Compare that to countries that not only invest in infrastructure but also offer athletes financial incentives, elite coaching, and predictable schedules. The difference is night and day.

Every time Nigeria loses another athlete, it isn’t just about medals lost. It’s about what could have been, a generation of world-beaters let down by bureaucracy.

We keep hearing the same excuses from officials. But every new flag hoisted by a Nigerian-born champion in another country is a reminder: this is self-inflicted.

Until Nigeria starts treating athletes with respect, urgency, and professionalism, our brightest prospects will keep leaving. And the green-white-green will keep fading on the world stage, not because we lack talent, but because we refuse to nurture it.