Team Nigeria’s sprinter, Favour Ofili, has expressed her frustration again after missing the women’s 100m race heat at the Paris 2024 Olympics, despite intervention from the country’s sports minister, Senator John Enoh, regarding the exclusion of her name from the race.
Ofili, who qualified for both the 100m and 200m events, recently voiced her dissatisfaction on her ‘X’ (formerly Twitter) handle, blaming the Athletic Federation of Nigeria (AFN) and the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) for the oversight.
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In response, the sports minister expressed dismay, condemning the exclusion of the sprinter from the 100m race.
“As Minister of Sports, I will not tolerate this utter recklessness. It is highly inexcusable, and there will be thorough sanctions following investigations into where and from whom this gross negligence originated,” he warned.
“All parties must take their duties very seriously. The current operation of the Federal Ministry of Sports Development does not allow for incompetence at any level.
“As an immediate measure, the Athletic Federation of Nigeria and the Nigeria Olympic Committee must ensure that Favour Ofili is not deprived of the opportunity to compete in the races for which she is qualified and registered to represent the country at the Paris Olympics. She is committed to proving her mettle.”
Expressing her frustration over not participating in the 100m race heat, Ofili sought justice for the exclusion of her name from the Paris 2024 Olympics in a post on her ‘X’ (formerly Twitter) handle shared on Friday, August 2.
Ofili recounted her previous experience at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, stating, “This is not the first time you guys are doing this, so don’t think this is over because it is not.”
She questioned who is responsible for entering athletes into the Olympic Games, asking, “Who assigned federations and/or Olympic committees to enter athletes into the Olympic Games? Is it World Athletics? If so, should they not hold them accountable when they fail to do their job by not entering athletes in events they qualify and want to compete in?”
Ofili further expressed disappointment over the silence from the country’s sports regulatory bodies, noting that no action has been taken regarding her situation.
“Sadly, nothing has been done,” she lamented. “I’m yet to see or hear that anyone is being punished for what the NOC and AFN did to me. Athletes shouldn’t be punished for things beyond their control.
“If those responsible are not held accountable for taking this opportunity from me, neither organization can ever be trusted in the future.”
By Dotun Omisakin
