Nigerian sprinter Favour Ofili will not be competing in the 100 meters at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games despite meeting the qualification standards.
Ofili expressed her disappointment in a social media post, citing administrative failures by the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) and the Nigerian Olympic Committee (NOC) as the reasons for her exclusion.
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 organisation failed to enter me? she wrote.
This is not the first time Ofili has faced such an issue. She reminded her followers of a similar incident during the last Olympic Games, where she could not compete due to the AFN, NADC, and NOC failing to release funds for athletes in the USA to be tested.
This administrative mishap affected 14 Nigerian athletes who had qualified for the games.
“Now THIS……..If those responsible are NOT held accountable for taking this opportunity from me, neither organisation can EVER be trusted in the future!” Ofili added.
The oversight has left Ofili focusing on the 200-meter event, hoping there will be no further administrative errors.
She concluded her post with a hopeful note: “Next one is the 200 meters; I HOPE I’M ENTERED.”
This situation has sparked outrage among fans and the athletic community, requiring a thorough investigation into the AFN and NOC’s handling of athlete entries.
The exclusion of a qualified athlete from the Olympics not only impacts the individual but also tarnishes the country’s reputation in the international sports arena.
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