Olympic athletics: Nigeria inquiry after Favour Ofili left off 100m entry list

Nigerian officials have told the BBC they are trying to work out how Favour Ofili’s name was left off the entry list for the women’s 100m at Paris 2024.

The 21-year-old sprinter was expecting to compete in three events at her first Olympics: the 100m, 200m and women’s 4x100m relay.

But Ofili was told that she had not been registered for the 100m before Friday’s heats.

She subsequently shared a blistering statement on social media saying: “I have worked for four years to earn this opportunity. For what?”

There is confusion as to what happened, with both Nigerian officials and governing body World Athletics denying responsibility.

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

“We just confirmed that. Normally World Athletics will send [entries] for Paris 2024. That is where the confusion is.”

However, World Athletics, the organisation responsible for drawing up start lists, has confirmed to BBC Sport Africa that Ofili was only entered in two events – the 200m and the women’s 4x100m relay.

Nigeria’s sports minister, senator John Owan Enoh, said the saga will be investigated and there will be “thorough sanctions” for those found culpable for the oversight.