Nigerian sprinter Favour Ofili has voiced her deep frustration over being excluded from the 100-metre race at the ongoing Paris Olympics, attributing the situation to administrative lapses by the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) and the Nigerian Olympic Committee (NOC).

Nigerian Sprinter Favour Ofili Denied 100m Spot at Paris Olympics

Expressing her disappointment, Ofili called for accountability from those responsible and questioned the trustworthiness of the organizations involved. She also shared her hope to be entered in the 200-metre event, as she continues her journey as an LSU Track and Field alumni— a program known for its prestigious track and field achievements at Louisiana State University.

In her statement, Ofili wrote, “It is with great regret that I have just been told I will not be competing in the 100 metres at this Olympic Games. I qualified, but those with the AFN and NOC failed to enter me. I have worked for four years to earn this opportunity. For what?”

Despite having qualified, Ofili revealed that officials did not register her for the event, mirroring the unfortunate situation she faced during the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

She further added, “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 Nigerian athletes that qualified to not compete. Now this…”

Ofili stressed the importance of holding those responsible accountable, stating that without it, neither organization could be trusted in the future. She concluded by expressing her hope to be entered in the upcoming 200-metre race.

According to PUNCH Online, Ofili has secured her spot in the women’s 200m event at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. At just 21 years old, she was listed for the 100m, 200m, 400m, and the 100×100 relay. However, attempts to reach officials from the AFN and NOC for clarification have been unsuccessful.

In a previous tweet, posted around 10 pm, Ofili was among 10 Nigerian athletes deemed ineligible for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics by the Athletics Integrity Unit due to insufficient testing. This setback is just one of many challenges she has faced throughout her athletic career.

Making her Olympic debut in Paris, Ofili brings with her a remarkable track record, including a Commonwealth Games silver medal, an African Games championship, and titles from the World U20 Championships and the African Senior Athletics Championships in the 200m. Her impressive career also saw her ranked among the Top 8 at the World Championships.

Currently, Ofili holds a world ranking of 23 in the 100m and 52 in the 200m, with her highest rankings being 13th in the 200m, 23rd in the 100m, and 37th in the 400m. Remarkably, she also set three new records in the span of a single month this past May.

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