Favour Ofili out of the women’s Olympic 100m race at Paris 2024
Nigeria’s hopes of winning a medal in the women’s 100m at the Olympics may have been dashed as Favour Ofili is out of the race despite her qualification.
This is because the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) and the Athletic Federation of Nigeria (AFN) failed to register her for the event.
Ofili who qualified for the women’s 100m during the AFN National Trials was one of Nigeria’s medal hopefuls.
Sharing her reaction in an Instagram post, Ofili expressed her displeasure at being omitted especially as she was disqualified at the Tokyo Olympics which felt like fate was repeating itself. She also accused the AFN and NOC of taking the opportunity from her.
According to the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU), the disqualification resulted from failing to comply with the out-of-competition testing (OCT) requirement.
She wrote: 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 my name.
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 organization 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 in the USA 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 organization can EVER be trusted in the future!
In their response, the AFN on Wednesday revealed that Ofili was registered for the 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay.
Ofili who also qualified for the 200 meters is hopeful that she would participate at the event.
Nigerians have since taken to Twitter to share their displeasure at the development.
Your task is to enter JUST 37 names & you missed out on the athlete with one of the chances to win a medal for Team Nigeria (Favour Ofili).
This must not be swept under the carpet. 💔 pic.twitter.com/EbuBgUPSOB
— POOJA!!! (@PoojaMedia) July 31, 2024
This Favour Ofili case reiterates the Nigerian anyhowness we the young ones are trying to purge.
These things simply don’t happen anywhere else in the world. This is the Olympics fgs!
We must develop a culture of Nigerian exceptionalism.
— Morris Monye (@Morris_Monye) July 31, 2024
Favour Ofili, the 21 year old 200m and 300m African Record holder, who is one of our more realistic hopes of winning medals at the ongoing Paris 2024 Olympics will miss out of the women’s 100m because the Athletics Federation of Nigeria failed to enter her name, despite the fact… pic.twitter.com/1UVBVncJn7
— Man of Letters. (@Letter_to_Jack) July 31, 2024
Favour Ofili took scalps at LSU, qualified for Olympics and then couldn’t compete because Nigerian Olympic officials refused to do their jobs. Two Olympics in a row. What is this country please??
— -valar morghulis- (@eldivyn) July 30, 2024
Tomorrow if Favour Ofili switches country and gets a new passport to fulfill her dream of competing at the Olympics, “Patriots and Progressives” will call her unpatriotic.
The anyhowness in Nigeria kills dreams.
Her dreams must come first! Thats all she has.
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— Morris Monye (@Morris_Monye) July 31, 2024
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