Ofili qualifies for women’s 200m final — first Nigerian Olympian in 28 years

Favour Ofili has become the first Nigerian to qualify for the final of the women’s 100 meters at the Olympics in 28 years.

The 21-year-old dipped 22.05 seconds to finish second in heat 1 of the women’s 200 meters semi-final at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Nigeria has not been represented in the event’s final at the games since Mary Onyali achieved the feat in Atlanta ’96.

Onyali finished the final with a bronze medal after finishing behind France’s Marie-Jose Perec and Meriene Ottey of Jamaica.

Ofili was born in 2002 — over six years after Onyali claimed the accolade.

She was only surpassed by Julien Alfre, the women’s 100m Olympics champion, who finished first with 21.98 seconds.

The race was cleanly executed by Ofili, who was well ahead of third-placed Makenzie Long of the US.

She qualified for the final with the third-best time overall in the semi-finals, which makes her a medal hopeful in the event.

The final of the event is billed for Wednesday by 8:40 pm.

In wrestling, Oborududu has qualified for the semi-finals of the women’s 68kg freestyle.

She defeated Canada’s Linda Morais in the first round 8-2 before outclassing France’s Koumba Larrouque in the quarter-final 6-2.

She’s scheduled to face Zhumanazarova Meerim of Azerbaijan in the semis later on Monday.