Paris 2024: Favour Ofili calls out NOC, AFN and Sports Ministry for incompetence and neglect in latest outburst
By Samuel Ahmadu in France
Renowned sprinter Favour Ofili has lambasted the Nigerian Olympic Committee (NOC), the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) and Sports Ministry for their repeated failures and negligence, which have severely impacted her athletic career at the ongoing Paris 2024 Olympics.
No Ofili in the women’s 100m heats, just Rosemary Chukwuma and Tima Godbless in heats 5 and 7 respectively.
In a series of scathing statements, Ofili exposed the incompetence and lack of accountability that plague these institutions.
“This is not the first time you guys are doing this so don’t think this is over because it is not,”Ofili declared, recounting the persistent nature of these issues.
Her frustration is palpable as she questions the very structure of responsibility within the sporting community.
“Who assigned federations and/or Olympic committees to enter athletes into Olympic Games? Is it World Athletics? If so, should they not hold them accountable when they fail to do their job by not entering athletes in events they qualify and want to compete?”
Ofili’s comments come on the heels of another bureaucratic blunder where her opportunity to compete was compromised.
Despite qualifying and being eager to represent Nigeria, she found herself sidelined due to administrative failures. “Sadly, nothing has been done,” she lamented.
“I’m yet to see or hear anyone is being punished for what the NOC and AFN did to me. Athletes shouldn’t be getting punished for things out of their control.”
Her frustration was further underscored by a stark warning about the future of Nigerian sports governance.
“If those responsible are not held accountable for taking this opportunity from me, neither organization can ever be trusted in the future,” Ofili asserted.
This incident is not an isolated one, and it underscores a broader issue of mismanagement within Nigerian sports governance.
The lack of repercussions for those responsible raises serious concerns about the commitment of these bodies to their athletes.
Ofili’s outcry is a desperate plea for reform, accountability, and justice in a system that continues to let down its sports stars.
As Nigeria’s sporting community looks to the future, the voices of athletes like Ofili cannot be ignored.
