In an unprecedented turn of events, Favour Ofili took to social media on Tuesday to reveal her non-inclusion in the 100m tracks race by the Athletics Federation of Nigeria. According to a series of tweets she made on X, she complained that she qualified but was not included in the track event.
Favour’s nonparticipation has smeared the already staggering reputation of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN). What is worse is neither the AFN nor the Nigeria Olympics Committee is willing to take the blame for the omission.
AFN Technical Director, Samuel Onikeku expressed shock at Ofili’s exclusion in a press release on Wednesday where he stated they were not aware her name got missing in the 100m race.
Ofili expressed her shock and frustration on social media where she announced her disappointment in the AFN. She said:
“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 4 years to earn this opportunity.
“For what… to not be entered and compete at the Olympic Games because the responsible organisation failed to enter me? ‘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. If those responsible are not held accountable for taking this opportunity from me, neither organisation can ever be trusted in the future!‘ Next one is the 200 metres; I hope I’m entered.”
Favour Chukwuka Ofili, 21, is a track and field sprinter with medals to her name. She has currently teamed with Tobi Amusan, Rosemary Chukwuma, Nzubechi Grace Nwokocha, Joy Udo-Gabriel in the 2024 Olympics.
In a statement on Wednesday, the Minister of Sports Development, John Enoh, expressed his displeasure at the terrible development and promised to hold those responsible accountable. He said:
“As Minister of Sports, I will not tolerate this utter recklessness. It is highly inexcusable, and there will be thorough sanctions after investigations into where and from whom this gross negligence originated.”
The Athletics Federation of Nigeria previously were accused of non-fulfilment of promises to athletes that participated in Golden League in June 2023. The Vice president, Tafida Gadzama had come out to publicly apologise to the athletes and promised a better AFN in future.
With the new series of events, Athletes’ trust in the AFN and the Sports federation will become minimal if proper measures are not put into place. An error of omission on an international stage costs greatly to one’s image.
