Favour Ofili, a talented Nigerian sprinter, has expressed her frustration and disappointment after being denied the opportunity to compete in the 100-metre race at the ongoing Paris Olympics.
Despite qualifying for the event, Ofili was not entered by the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) and the Nigerian Olympic Committee (NOC), citing administrative failures.
This is not the first time Ofili has faced disappointment due to administrative blunders. In the previous Olympics, Tokyo 2020, she was unable to compete because the necessary funds for athlete testing were not released by the AFN, NADC, and NOC.
Ofili has called for accountability from those responsible for her lost opportunity, questioning the trustworthiness of the AFN and NOC.
She hopes to still compete in the 200-metre event, but her confidence in the organizations has been shaken.
Ofili’s talent and hard work have earned her a place among the top sprinters in Nigeria. Her qualification for both the 100m and 200m events made her a medal hopeful for Nigeria. However, the administrative blunders have dashed her hopes and left her frustrated.
The repeated failures of the AFN and NOC raise concerns about the future of Nigerian athletics. If those responsible are not held accountable, it may lead to a lack of trust and hinder the development of talented athletes like Ofili.
