Nigerian sprinter Favour Ofili has revealed that an administrative error cost her the chance to compete in the 100 meters at the Olympic Games.
In a heartfelt Instagram post, Ofili expressed her disappointment and frustration with the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) and the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) for failing to enter her name for the event despite her qualification.
“It is with great regret that I have just been told I will not be competing in the 100m at this Olympic Games,” Ofili stated. “I qualified, but those with the AFN and NOC failed to enter my name.”
The sprinter highlighted the years of hard work and dedication she put into earning this opportunity, only to have it taken away due to an administrative oversight.
More Read
“I have worked for four years to earn this opportunity. For what—to not be entered and compete at the Olympic Games because the responsible organizations failed to enter me?” she added.
Ofili also recalled a similar incident from the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, where 10 Nigerian athletes based in the U.S. were unable to compete due to funding issues related to drug testing.
“Please remember, in the last Olympic Games, I was not able to compete because the AFN, NADC, and NOC failed to release funds for athletes in the U.S. to be tested, which caused 14 Nigerian athletes who qualified to miss out. Now this,” she said.
“If those responsible are not held accountable for taking this opportunity from me, neither organization can ever be trusted in the future!”
The AFN had listed Ofili for both the 100m and 200m events at the Paris 2024 Olympics after she qualified for both events ahead of the Olympics.
She qualified for the 100m event of the Paris 2024 Olympics after retuning a time of 11.06s to win the National Trials in Benin last month after she had earlier qualified for the 200m event with a time of 22.33s to win the Toms Jones Memorial Classic at the James G. Pressly Stadium, in Gainesville, Florida in April.
© Bold Media Innovations & Creative Hub Limited. All rights reserved. If sharing, kindly credit Bold Sports as the source and include a link to the original post. Unauthorised use is prohibited.
