Sprinter Favour Ofili, raised an alarm days to the start of the Paris 2024 Olympics track and field events, crying that her name is off the list of women 100m contestants.
She pointed accusing fingers at the Athletic Federation of Nigeria but officials have washed their hands off the technical glitch, which remained a top of discussion among Nigerian athletics buffs.
Ofili was entered by the AFN to run the 100m, 200m and the 4x 100m relay, after she ran 11.06 Olympics qualifying standard at the national trials in Benin City. But on Wednesday morning she fuming about her name missing from the 100m and demanding answers from the AFN and Nigeria Olympic Committee.
“We don’t know how her name got missing in the 100m. This is our stand as a federation,” AFN Technical Director, Samuel Onikeku, told AFN Media.
He added that Ofili’s name was submitted for the three events in the list sent to the NOC and the AFN just like the athlete is bemused about the situation.
Ofili in a social media post demanded for accountability, and was skeptical about participating in the other events.
“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 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 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 to be tested, which made 14 Nigeria 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 200meters, I HOPE IM ENTERED.”
