Paris Olympics: Nigerian athlete left out of 100m entry list

Nigerian athlete, Favour Ofili, has sent a strong message to the Nigerian athletics officials after she was told in Paris that her name was not entered for the 100m race.

The sprinter, 21, had to compete in the 100m, 200m, and women’s 4x100m relay.

“It is with great regret that I have just been told I will not be competing in the 100 meters at this Olympic Games” she wrote on Instagram.

She said “I qualified but those within the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) and Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) failed to enter my name.”

The officials have denied responsibility, saying they are trying to figure out how the athlete’s name did not feature on the entry list of the 100m event.

Solomon Ogba, Vice President of the Nigerian Olympic Committee, acknowledged that “she qualified in our trials and the result was sent to the World Athletics,” adding that the issue is being investigated.

The officials responsible for drawing the start lists at the Olympics said Ofili was only entered in the 200m and the women’s 4x100m relay.

The sprinter is participating at her first Olympics. She said her participation in the previous games was not possible because the same Nigerian athletic organizations failed to release funds for athletes in the USA to be tested. She pointed out that it made 14 Nigerian athletes that qualified “to not compete”.

Ofili has called for those responsible to be held accountable, “for taking this opportunity from me”.