Nigerian Probe Launched After Ofili's Omission from Olympic Start List.

Nigerian officials are investigating how Favour Ofili's name was mistakenly omitted from the women’s 100m entry list for the Paris 2024 Olympics. They’ve reached out to the BBC to shed light on this baffling oversight and ensure it’s resolved swiftly.

The 21-year-old sprinter Favour Ofili was eagerly anticipating her Olympic debut in Paris, where she was set to compete in the 100m, 200m, and the women’s 4x100m relay. However, she was shocked to discover just before Friday’s heats that her name was missing from the 100m entry list.

Ofili took to social media with a powerful statement: “I have worked for four years to earn this opportunity. For what?” Her frustration highlights the mystery surrounding the error, with both Nigerian officials and World Athletics denying fault.

Solomon Ogba, a vice president of the Nigeria Olympic Committee, expressed their determination to uncover the truth, telling BBC Sport Africa, “We are trying to get to the root of it, because she qualified in our trials and the result was sent to World Athletics.”

World Athletics has confirmed to BBC Sport Africa that Favour Ofili was only listed for the 200m and the women’s 4x100m relay, not the 100m. 

Nigeria’s sports minister, Senator John Owan Enoh, has announced an investigation into the matter and promised “thorough sanctions” for those responsible for the error.

Ofili Faces Fresh Olympic Heartbreak

Favour Ofili has taken to social media to blame the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) and the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) for her Olympic setback. She accused them of failing to enter her for the 100m, saying, "I qualified, but those with the AFN and NOC failed to enter me. If those responsible are not held accountable, neither organisation can ever be trusted in the future!"

The AFN has not commented, but Solomon Ogba of the NOC assured that they are working on her case. "Let's see how it goes," he said, noting that the sports minister is actively investigating the issue.

This isn't the first time Ofili has faced Olympic disappointment due to administrative issues. She missed her chance to compete in the Tokyo 2020 Games after not meeting the required number of out-of-competition drug tests. 

The latest error has stirred frustration among Nigerian sports fans and sparked calls for accountability.