Following reports that Nigerian sprint star and Commonwealth Games silver medallist Favour Ofili has filed to switch her nationality to Turkey, citing poor treatment by the Nigerian government, Anthony Nlebem takes a look at Nigerian athletes who have represented other countries at the Olympic Games.
Here are 12 notable Nigerian athletes who switched nationality and have competed for other countries:
Salwa Eid Naser (Bahrain)
Born Ebelechukwu Agbapuonwu in Onitsha, Anambra State, Nigeria, Salwa Eid Naser made history by winning the silver medal in the women’s 400m at the Paris 2024 Olympics, representing Bahrain.
Naser’s journey from Nigeria to the Olympic podium is a story of talent, ambition, and resilience. She first rose to prominence while attending Ado Girls Secondary School in Onitsha, where she won the Nigerian School Sports title in 2013.
Annette Echikunwoke (USA)
Olympic silver medallist Annette Echikunwoke, born in Ohio to Nigerian parents, initially set out to represent Nigeria at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
She made headlines by becoming the first woman to throw beyond 70 metres in the hammer throw on Nigerian soil and broke both the Nigerian and African records with a remarkable throw of 75.49m at the USATF Throws Festival in Arizona, earning her qualification for the Tokyo Games.
However, due to administrative lapses by the Nigerian Athletics Federation, Echikunwoke was ruled ineligible to compete in Tokyo. Disappointed but undeterred, she switched her allegiance back to the United States.
Femi Ogunode (Qatar)
Nigerian-born sprinter Femi Ogunode moved to Qatar in 2009 and began representing the Gulf nation in 2010. He quickly made an impact, becoming an Asian Games champion in both 2010 and 2014.
Ogunode has achieved notable success for Qatar in international sprint events, including appearances at the Olympic Games, where he remains one of the country’s standout athletes in track and field.
Francis Obikwelu (Portugal)
Francis Obikwelu, a retired Nigerian-born Portuguese sprinter, was once Nigeria’s top 100m star. He began his career representing Nigeria but switched allegiance to Portugal after facing a lack of support from Nigerian sports authorities following an injury.
Born in Onitsha, Nigeria, Obikwelu was introduced to athletics at age 14 when a football coach spotted his potential. He quickly rose through the ranks and won a silver medal in the 400 metres at the 1994 African Junior Championships while representing Nigeria.
He won a silver medal in the men’s 100m at the Athens 2004 Olympic Games, becoming a national hero in his adopted country.
Glory Alozie (Spain)
Glory Alozie is a former world-class hurdler who competed for both Nigeria and Spain during her illustrious career. Born in Nigeria, Alozie initially represented her home country and won several international medals. However, following personal and administrative challenges, she switched allegiance to Spain in 2001.
Competing for her adopted country, Alozie enjoyed further success, winning a European Championship gold medal and multiple silver medals at the World Indoor Championships.
Rhasidat Adeleke (Ireland)
European silver medallist Rhasidat Adeleke was born and raised in Dublin, Ireland, to Nigerian parents. The 21-year-old sprint star narrowly missed out on an Olympic medal at the Paris 2024 Games, finishing fourth in the women’s 400m final with a time of 49.28 seconds.
Adeleke was edged out of the bronze medal by Poland’s Natalia Kaczmarek, who had also beaten her to gold at the European Championships in June.
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Daniel Igali (Canada)
Daniel Igali is a Nigerian-Canadian wrestler who made history by winning Canada’s first and only Olympic gold medal in men’s wrestling at the Sydney 2000 Olympics. Originally the captain of the Nigerian wrestling team, Igali travelled to Canada to compete at the 1994 Commonwealth Games but remained in the country, seeking refugee status due to political unrest in Nigeria. He acquired Canadian citizenship in 1998.
Yemisi Ogunleye (Germany)
Born in Germany to a Nigerian father, Yemisi Ogunleye made history at the Paris 2024 Olympics by winning the gold medal in the women’s shot put for Germany, marking a breakthrough in her athletic career.
Victoria Ohuruogu (Great Britain)
Victoria Ohuruogu represented Great Britain and secured a bronze medal in the women’s 4x400m relay at the Paris 2024 Olympics. She is the younger sister of Olympic gold medallist Christine Ohuruogu and continues her family’s legacy in athletics.
Femi Adebayo (USA)
NBA star Bam Adebayo, whose father is Nigerian, played a key role in helping Team USA win gold in men’s basketball at the Paris 2024 Olympics. He has long expressed pride in his Nigerian heritage while representing the United States on the international stage.
Kemi Adekoya (Bahrain)
Originally from Nigeria, Kemi Adekoya switched allegiance to Bahrain in 2014. She competed in the 400m hurdles at the Rio 2016 Olympics and has since been a consistent medal contender for Bahrain in major international events.
Florence Ekpo-Umoh (Germany)
Florence Ekpo-Umoh is a Nigerian-born 400m sprinter who switched allegiance to Germany in 1995. She went on to win gold at the European Championships and a silver medal at the World Championships, becoming a key figure in German athletics.
