Paris 2024: Minister Seeks Clarity on Ofili’s Exclusion In 100m

Minister of Sports Development, Senator John Enoh, has said that he will not take it lightly with anyone or group of people responsible for the exclusion of Favour Ofili from participating in the 100m at the ongoing 2024 Olympic Games in France.

On Wednesday morning, the Minister stated:

“On July 28, 2024, as Minister of Sports Development, I visited and addressed Team Nigeria athletes at the Games Village in Paris.It was a no holds barred session. Thereafter, I had my usual personal interaction with the athletes to allow them to express their concerns directly to me, which has been my tradition as Minister of Sports.In addition, I have continued to encourage athletes to reach me directly on any concerns.

In hindsight, when Ofili had issues at the African Championships in Douala, I reached out to get her side of the story, and this time, it hasn’t been different. Favour Ofili reached me directly, expressing her concern for her races. Immediately I called Professor Ken Anugweje, the lead of the Ministerial Podium Performance Committee, to ensure that Ofili’s issues are thoroughly addressed. He got back to me shortly after to say he was in touch with the 1st Vice President of NOC, Chief Solomon Ogba, and that the matter was being handled.

Upon hearing Ofili’s distress this morning, I reached out to the Athletic Federation of Nigeria (AFN). The Technical Director, Samuel Onikeku, stated categorically that Favour Ofili was registered for the 100m, 200m, and the 4x100m relay. The Secretary General of AFN has also insisted that the final list forwarded by her to NOC (the only body the International Olympic Committee receives the final list of athletes from), had Ofili listed for the 100m as well. I am in touch with the President of the NOC on this and await his explanation.

Ofili has been in the top eight at the World Championships.She is a Commonwealth Games silver medalist, an African Games champion, a former World U20 champion, and an African Senior Athletics Championships champion in the 200m.

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. All parties must take their duties very seriously. The current way of operating the Federal Ministry of Sports Development does not allow for incompetence at any level.

As an immediate measure, the Athletic Federation of Nigeria and the Nigeria Olympic Committee must ensure that Favour Ofili is not deprived of the opportunity to compete in the races for which she is qualified and registered to represent the country at the Paris Olympics. She is committed to proving her mettle.”

Also, the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) says it is in shock on why the name of sprinter Favour Ofili got missing from the 100m event of the Paris 2024 Olympics.

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The reigning Nigeria 100m queen, Ofili had raised the alarm this morning on discovering that her name was not on the list of competitors for the 100m event. She accused the AFN of deliberately omitting her name from the 100m event.

AFN Technical Director Samuel Onikeku swiftly responded to the news of Ofili’s omission from the 100m, expressing shock at the error. In a message on AFN Media, he questioned about the omission of Ofili’s name from the list.

“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.”