Ofili: AFN failed to register me for Olympics 100m race even though I qualified

Favour Ofili, national women champion, says she cannot participate in the women’s 100 meters at the Paris Olympics because the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) and the Athletic Federation of Nigeria (AFN) failed to register her for the event. 

The 22-year-old sprinter announced the development in a post on her Instagram page on Tuesday.

Ofili qualified for the women’s 100 meters at the Olympics after clinching the national title in April.

In a new twist, the Louisiana State University (LSU) student revealed that she was not included among the representatives of the country in the race at the Olympics.

She accused NOC and AFN of “taking this opportunity from me”, adding that “neither organisation can ever be trusted in the future”.

“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,” the post reads.

“For what? To not be entered and compete at the Olympic Games because the responsible organisation failed to enter me?”

Ofili, who also qualified for the women’s 200-meter race, added that she hopes the omission does not also extend to that event.

In 2021, Ofili was among ten Nigerian track and field athletes disqualified from participating in the Tokyo Olympics.

According to the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU), the disqualification resulted from failing to comply with the out-of-competition testing (OCT) requirement.

The 2024 Olympics commenced on July 26, and the track and field event is scheduled to start on August 1.