August 04, (THEWILL) – The recent debacle surrounding Nigerian sprinter Favour Ofili’s exclusion from the 100m event at the Paris Olympics is yet another stain on the country’s already tarnished sporting reputation. This inexcusable administrative blunder is not an isolated incident, but part of a recurring pattern of incompetence that has plagued Nigerian athletics for years.
Ofili, who boasts a personal best of 10.93 seconds in the 100m and won the Nigerian national title in June with a time of 11.06 seconds, found herself unable to compete in her signature event in Paris due to the sheer negligence of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) and the Nigerian Olympic Committee (NOC). These organisations failed to properly submit her registration forms, robbing her of a chance to compete on the world stage she had worked tirelessly to reach.
The talented sprinter took to social media to express her frustration, stating: “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 four years to earn this opportunity. For what?” Her heartfelt plea highlights the personal toll of such administrative failures on athletes who dedicate their lives to their sport.
This is not Ofili’s first brush with administrative incompetence. In 2019, she nearly missed the World Championships due to paperwork issues. In 2021, she was barred from the Tokyo Olympics because Nigeria failed to meet minimum anti-doping testing requirements set by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU). Now, in 2024, she faces yet another setback due to bureaucratic failures.
This pattern of repeated mistakes raises serious questions about the competence and commitment of those responsible for managing Nigerian athletics.
The Minister of Sports, John Enoh, has promised an investigation and potential sanctions. In a statement, he declared: “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.” However, given the history of similar incidents going unpunished, there is little faith in any meaningful consequences for those responsible.
Solomon Ogba, NOC vice president, attempted to explain the situation, telling the BBC: “We are trying to get to the root of it, because she qualified in our trials and the result was sent to World Athletics. We just confirmed that. Normally, World Athletics will send [entries] for Paris 2024. That is where the confusion is.”
Such statements do little to assuage concerns and instead highlight the lack of clear communication and responsibility within Nigerian sports administration.
This systemic failure extends beyond Ofili’s case. The Nigerian women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, faced numerous challenges in their Olympic journey. Despite their impressive victory over Australia – their first Olympic win since 2004 – they struggled with inadequate support, logistical nightmares and subpar accommodation. Their exclusion from the opening ceremony boat parade further highlighted the lack of respect and recognition they receive.
The D’Tigress’ experience underscores a broader issue within Nigerian sports—athletes often receive inadequate support and get recognition when they are winning. This pattern of neglect followed by sudden celebration when victories occur highlights a systemic failure to provide consistent backing to sportsmen and women. Such treatment not only demoralises athletes but also hampers their potential to achieve greater success on the global stage.
Even in matters as basic as team uniforms, incompetence reigns. Conflicting reports about kit arrangements for Team Nigeria created unnecessary confusion and distraction. The Federal Ministry of Sports Development had to issue a clarification to address misinformation about the team’s kit arrangements. While the Ministry of Sports Development clarified that they had partnered with PEAK to supply comprehensive kit packages, the mere existence of such issues speaks volumes about the disorganisation plaguing Nigerian sports.
These repeated failures stem from a culture of nepotism, corruption and lack of accountability. Positions of responsibility are often filled based on connections rather than competence, leading to a cascade of poor decisions and mismanagement. This is reflected in the terrible treatment that Ofili and other athletes have suffered after sacrificing so much to qualify for Olympic events.
The consequences of this incompetence are far-reaching. Athletes who have dedicated years to their craft are denied opportunities to compete. Nigeria’s reputation on the global stage suffers and the country’s sporting potential remains unfulfilled. The international community watches in disbelief as a nation with such a wealth of athletic talent repeatedly fails its sportspeople through sheer administrative ineptitude.
It is high time for a complete overhaul of Nigeria’s sports administration. A thorough and transparent investigation into the Ofili case and similar incidents must be conducted, with the findings made public. Those responsible for administrative failures must face real consequences, including removal from their positions. This is essential not only for justice but also to deter future incompetence.
The entire system of appointments to Sports Federations and Committees needs to be revamped. Positions should be filled based on competence and experience, not political connections or nepotism. This may require an independent body to oversee the selection process and ensure that only qualified individuals are placed in positions of responsibility.
Comprehensive systems must be put in place to ensure athletes receive proper logistical, financial and emotional support. This includes everything from timely registration for events to adequate training facilities and medical care. The D’Tigress’ struggles with accommodation and support during the Olympics highlight the urgent need for such systems.
Regular, independent audits of sports federations should be conducted to ensure compliance with international standards and best practices. These audits should examine not only financial matters but also administrative procedures, athlete support systems and overall governance.
Transparency must be at the forefront of all sports administration activities. All decisions and processes related to athlete selection and event registration should be made public and easily accessible. This would help prevent situations like Ofili’s, where confusion and incompetence led to a talented athlete being excluded from competition.
The time for empty promises and hollow investigations is over. Nigeria’s athletes deserve better. The country’s sporting reputation hangs in the balance. Only through decisive action and a commitment to excellence can Nigeria hope to restore its standing in the international sports community and provide its athletes with the support and opportunities they deserve.
The Ofili case and the struggles of the D’Tigress are not just sports stories; they are symptomatic of deeper issues within Nigerian governance and administration. They reflect a broader pattern of negligence, incompetence, and lack of accountability that plagues many sectors of Nigerian society. Addressing these issues in sports could serve as a catalyst for wider reforms, demonstrating that Nigeria can indeed operate efficiently and transparently when the will to do so exists.
Nigeria must learn from these failures and implement sweeping changes. The talent and dedication of Nigerian athletes are beyond question; it is now up to the country’s sports administrators and government officials to match that excellence with their own performance.
