An investigative committee set up by the Federal Government has found that the inactions of key AFN officials led to Favour Ofili’s exclusion from the women’s 100-meter race at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

The official report published, Monday, sheds light on a series of communication failures that prevented the Ofili from competing in the event despite her qualification.

The Investigation revealed the lapses by AFN led to the athlete’s non-registration, and the report has recommended that the officials involved should face penalties.

AFN’s Negligence in Ofili’s Non-Registration

Favour Ofili of Team Nigeria (C) competes in the in the Women’s 4 x 100m Relay at the Olympic Games. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

The committee’s findings pointed directly to the AFN, the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC), World Athletics, and the International Olympic Committee as key organizations involved in the oversight.

According to the report, Rita Mosindi, the Secretary-General of the AFN, was “negligent in her duty of communicating to the Ministry of Sports Development and the Nigeria Olympic Committee information about Ofili’s event status in a reliable and timely manner.”

Moreover, the report also criticized Samuel Onikeku, the AFN’s Technical Director, for displaying “poor judgment” by failing to act upon information suggesting that Ofili had not been registered for the 100m race.

Technical Director, Athletics Federation of Nigeria, Samuel Onikeku.

The committee noted that had Onikeku acted on this early warning, the situation could have been avoided.

Recommendations for Penalties and Compensation

The committee has recommended that the officials involved in the mishandling of Ofili’s registration be penalized by the relevant authorities.

Furthermore, the report called for the AFN to compensate Ofili with the sum of N8 million for the emotional distress and disappointment caused by the omission.

Favour Ofili, who had worked tirelessly for four years to qualify for the Paris Olympics, took to the social media after the revelation.

“I qualified, but those with the AFN and NOC failed to enter my name. I have worked for 4 years to earn this opportunity. For what…to not be entered and compete at the Olympic Games because the responsible organization failed to enter me,” Ofili wrote.

This incident mirrors a similar controversy during the Tokyo 2020 Olympics when several Nigerian athletes were sidelined due to administrative issues within the AFN.

Ese Ukpeseraye’s Controversial Social Media Post

The committee’s investigation also addressed a separate issue involving Nigerian cyclist Ese Ukpeseraye.

Ukpeseraye had revealed on social media that she had to borrow a track bike from the German team to compete in the cycling event at the Paris Olympics, a statement that caused embarrassment for the Nigerian contingent.

The committee recommended that Ukpeseraye issue a formal apology to both the Nigerian Cycling Federation (NCF) and the Nigerian delegation for the “embarrassment” caused by her post on X (formerly Twitter).

Ese Ukpeseraye. (Photo by Dario Belingheri/Getty Images)

The investigation stated, “The cyclist, Ese Ukpeseraye, should write a formal apology to the Nigeria Cycling Federation (NCF) for the embarrassment that she caused the Federation and the Nigerian contingent to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games on account of the unauthorised post.”

Calls for Reform in Nigerian Sports

The investigation has sparked renewed calls for reform in Nigeria’s sports sector. Many have voiced concerns over the persistent administrative failures that continue to undermine the country’s sporting potential.

With no medals won at the 2024 Paris Olympics and controversies surrounding athletes like Ofili and Ukpeseraye, there is growing pressure for reforms to ensure that Nigerian athletes are not held back by systemic issues.

The committee’s findings have sent a strong message to the AFN and other sporting bodies about the need for improved governance and accountability in the management of Nigeria’s sports affairs.

The hope is that these recommendations will lead to meaningful changes, so that future athletes can compete without such avoidable setbacks.