Olympics 2024: FG panel blames AFN chiefs for Favour Ofili’s 100m exclusion

A ministerial committee, established by former Sports Minister John Enoh, has uncovered serious administrative shortcomings within the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN).

These failings, notably including critical oversights by officials, led to the exclusion of sprinter Favour Ofili from the women’s 100 meters event at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Team Nigeria faced a difficult journey at the Paris Olympics, returning without a single medal and embroiled in several controversies.

Among these, Ofili’s unexpected omission from the 100 meters lineup became one of the most significant points of contention.

Despite having met the qualification criteria, Ofili’s name was not included in Nigeria’s official entry list, reportedly due to a miscommunication between the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) and the Nigerian Olympic Committee (NOC).

Ofili voiced her frustration over the oversight, especially since she also missed the Tokyo Olympics because of a similar administrative blunder.

The recent report highlights a troubling trend of administrative lapses within Nigeria’s athletic governing bodies, bringing attention to the urgent need for reform to prevent future incidents that impact athletes’ careers.

“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?” She posted on Instagram just before the sprint event began at the Olympic Games.

In a report released on Monday, Mumini Alao, the chairman of the committee, presented the findings and recommendations resulting from their investigations.

The committee stated in its findings: “Conflicting evidence” showed that the omission of Ofili’s name “is traceable to any one of the following organisations: Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC), World Athletics (WA) and the International Olympic Committee (IOC)”.

Rita Mosindi, the Secretary General of the AFN, and Samuel Onikeku, the Technical Director, were recommended for sanctions due to their roles in Favour Ofili’s omission from the 100m event.

In its recommendation to the government, the panel stated of Onikeku: “The Technical Director of the federation, Samuel Onikeku, should be sanctioned by the AFN Board of which he’s a member.” Onikeku is being recommended for sanction for not reporting the “hint” and “rumours” he heard regarding Ofili’s non-registration for the 100m event, reflecting his poor judgment in the matter.

The Secretary General of the AFN, Rita Mosindi, was also recommended for sanction. The panel stated: “The Secretary General of the AFN, Rita Mosindi, should be penalized by the appropriate authority for negligence in her duties. She was unable to provide convincing evidence to our committee to support her claim that she submitted important documents relating to the registration of the athlete, Favour Ofili, in the 100m, to the NOC.”

The committee noted that Ofili’s situation could have been salvaged if Onikeku had reported or acted promptly on the information he received.

The committee recommended that the AFN compensate Ofili with N8 million for the disappointment and depression she experienced due to her omission from the event.