AFN refuses to comment on Ofili

Officials from the Nigeria Athletics Federation have refused to comment on sprinter Favour Ofili being branded “uncontrollable” by an unnamed federation official over her rumoured plan to switch allegiances. The PUNCH defeated.

Ofili is at odds with the AFN and the Nigerian Olympic Committee after she was not entered for the women’s 100 meters at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, where the country returned without a medal.

Although Sports Development Minister John Enoh has promised an investigation into the matter, the athlete’s relationship with the federation appears to have deteriorated.

When contacted about the AFN’s position on Ofili’s case, the AFN’s Technical Director, Samuel Onikeku, refused to comment on the anonymous official’s remarks, calling the matter controversial. The federation’s chairman, Tonobok Okowa, also did not respond to several phone calls and WhatsApp messages sent to him by our correspondent.

“It’s an anonymous source and you want me to comment? You should know by now that I don’t get into controversies. If it’s a technical issue, I can respond, thanks,” Onikeku said.

In a recent report (not The PUNCH), the anonymous official alleged that Ofili has a record of violating AFN procedures since 2022.

“Ofili is fast becoming an uncontrollable athlete for the AFN. The biggest disappointment that Ofili has caused Nigeria was her refusal to compete in the 100m semi-final at the 23rd African Senior Championships in Douala, Cameroon, in July this year.

“Our first reaction was to stop her and Rosemary Chukwuma, who also failed to make it to the Paris Olympics, along with her 100m semi-finalist Rosemary Chukwuma. But the Minister of Sport, John Owan Enoh, invited them to his hotel in Douala for a meeting, even without our knowledge. It became difficult for the AFN to use the big stick against them.”

In Ofili’s defense, her Louisiana State University coach Dennis Shaver, who was with her during some of the episodes in which she violated AFN rules, denied allegations that she deliberately missed the African Championships.

“So it’s not true. Favor informed coaches after multiple start time delays of several warmups she would not compete in the final due to feelings of possible injury. This is the fact!” Shaver stated via X.

2008 Beijing Olympic silver medalist Blessing Okagbare, who is currently serving an 11-year ban for doping violations, also wrote via X: “If and when you challenge an authority for negligence and incompetence, they label you as undisciplined, arrogant and disrespectful. None of them can even prove how you directly disrespected them. They are always threatened by the truth.”