Nigerian athlete has her dreams SHATTERED as admin error denies her entry at Paris Olympics 2024 event

Nigerian athlete Favour Ofili's qualifying times were not sent ahead of her entry in 100m event at the Paris Olympics 2024.

Nigerian athlete has her dreams SHATTERED as admin error denies her entry at Paris Olympics 2024 event

Nigerian athlete Favour Ofili will not participate in the 100m race at Paris Olympics 2024 (Image via Open Source/X)

With the Paris 2024 Olympics underway, all the participating athletes are giving their best to etch their names in Summer Games history and bring glory to their nations. They have been working hard for the past four years to give their all in Paris. However, for Nigerian sprinter Favour Ofili, it seems she could not showcase her hard work due to someone else’s mistake.

The 21-year-old was entered to participate in the 100m, 200m, and 4x100m women’s relay. However, when she approached the start line of the 100m, all prepped and ready, she was not allowed to start. Apparently, her name was not on the entry list for the event. She took to her official X account to reveal her emotions after the heartbreaking event.

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 me. I have worked for 4 years to earn this opportunity. For what?
Favour Ofili wrote on X

She squarely blamed the Athletics Federation of Nigeria and the Nigeria Olympic Committee for this blunder, stating that they were supposed to send her entry to World Athletics.

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The 100m heats are already underway at the Paris Olympics 2024. World Athletics have claimed that they did not receive her qualifying times from her national governing bodies for the 100m. But they have received her entry for the 200m and the relay. Therefore, the onus has now shifted to her national bodies.

A mix up of this sort could have widespread ramifications. Not only will the country lose face, but the IOC will take up the matter seriously with the governing bodies. However, this is not the first time such a mistake has happened for the former LSU star.

Nigeria and its trysts with Olympics mistakes

This is not the first time Favour Ofili has missed out on an Olympics opportunity. She missed the Tokyo Games after Nigeria failed to meet the minimum testing requirements for a number of its athletes, including Ofili’s. The IOC is strict about the Athletics Integrity Unit giving a go ahead on all participating athletes.

Administrative error almost cost Nigerian athletes Divine Oduduru and Blessing Okagbare the chance to compete at the 2019 Athletics World Championships. Only after appealing to the World Athletics were they allowed to compete.

It seems this is a recurring issue with the country’s athletics governing bodies. Unless they get their act together, the best athletes of their nation will not be able to compete and give their best in the events they are good at.

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