3 months ago
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The omission of Favour Ofili from the Women’s 100m event of the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris has smeared Nigeria’s campaign, with the Athletics Federation of Nigeria and Nigeria Olympic Committee trading blames, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
In Wednesday’s release, AFN Technical Director, Samuel Onikeku, expressed shock at Ofili’s exclusion, stating, “We registered Ofili for the 100m, 200m, and the 4x100m relay. We don’t know how her name got missing in the 100m. This is our stand as a federation.”
Ofili took to her social media page to announce her omission on Tuesday, expressing her anger by writing, “It is with great regret that I have just been told I will not be competing in the 100 metres 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 organisation 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 Nigerian 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 200 metres; I hope I’m entered.”
In a statement on Wednesday, the Minister of Sports Development, John Enoh, expressed his dismay at the ugly development and promised to hold those responsible accountable.
“As Minister of Sports, I will not tolerate this utter recklessness. It is highly inexcusable, and there will be thorough sanctions after investigations into where and from whom this gross negligence originated,” he said.
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