Nigeria’s hopes of retaining Favour Ofili have received a boost after the estranged sprinter competed alongside compatriot Rosemary Chukwuma in the same relay team.
Both athletes featured for the Princeton Varsity Club’s 4x100m quartet at the Battle On The Bayou in Louisiana, where they combined effectively to secure victory.
Ofili delivered a strong anchor leg, while Chukwuma ran the third leg, helping the team clock an impressive 42.49 seconds.
The race, held at Bernie Moore Stadium, saw the quartet—also including Caisja Chandler and Liberia’s Thelma Davis—emerge as the fastest across both heats, underlining a dominant showing.
Ofili’s participation comes amid ongoing efforts by the Athletics Federation of Nigeria to prevent her from switching allegiance to Turkey.
Officials are reportedly encouraged that she was still identified as a Nigerian athlete throughout the event, raising optimism about a possible change of heart.
In the individual events, Chukwuma edged Ofili in the women’s 100m, posting a season-opening time of 10.81 seconds, while Ofili followed closely in 10.93 seconds.
Meanwhile, Nigeria’s presence was also felt in the men’s category, as Joshua Caleb anchored his team to victory in the men’s 4x100m for Louisiana State University, finishing in 38.80 seconds.
The joint appearance of Ofili and Chukwuma is being viewed as a positive sign for Nigerian athletics, especially amid concerns over Ofili’s future allegiance.
