Nigerian sprinter Favour Ofili will not compete in the 100 meters at the Paris 2024 Olympics. The Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) and the Nigerian Olympic Committee (NOC) reportedly failed to register her for the event, despite her qualifying performance.
The news has sparked outrage among fans and officials, with calls for accountability. Many are demanding that the responsible parties be dismissed and face legal consequences for what is seen as a glaring administrative failure.
“Someone who is paid a salary for the simple job of entering names of athletes has failed to enter Favour Ofili’s name. The person should be sacked, arrested, and tried in court for gross incompetence,” a source close to the situation stated.
Favour Ofili, a key member of Team Nigeria, expressed her disappointment in a statement: “It is with great regret that I have just been told I will not be competing in the 100 meters at this Olympic Games. I qualified, but those with the AFN and NOC failed to enter me. I have worked for 4 years to earn this opportunity. For what?
Please remember, in the last Olympic Games I was not able to compete because AFN, NADC and NOC failed to release funds for athletes to be tested, which made 14 Nigeria 🇳🇬 athletes that qualified to not compete. Now THIS…
If those responsible are NOT held accountable for taking this opportunity from me, neither organization can EVER be trusted in the future!
Next one is the 200meters, I HOPE IM ENTERED.”
Ofili’s exclusion is a significant blow to Nigeria’s track and field hopes, as she was considered a strong contender.
The incident has raised questions about the internal processes and efficiency of the AFN and NOC, with many calling for a thorough investigation and potential restructuring to prevent such issues in the future.
As the Olympic Games continue, the focus now shifts to ensuring that other athletes are correctly registered and represented, highlighting the critical importance of administrative diligence in sports governance.