By John Obi 

The Paris 2024 Olympics was undeniably a disastrous outing for Team Nigeria. Despite grand promises from Sports Minister John Owan Enoh and a ₦12 billion intervention from President Ahmed Bola Tinubu, Team Nigeria failed to secure a single medal, mirroring their dismal performance in the 2012 Olympics.

One of the most damaging controversies involved Nigeria’s 100-meter champion, Favour Ofili. In a baffling decision, Team Nigeria officials omitted her from the 100-meter event, raising serious questions about the management of the country's athletes.

Sports Minister John Enoh, in an attempt to control the fallout, initially threatened action, vowing that "heads would roll." Yet, eight weeks later, little has been done, showcasing his inexperience. Instead of appointing experts to address the issue, Enoh populated the investigative committee with his media allies, leading many to believe that it was a predetermined cover-up.

A credible source close to Team Nigeria shed light on the real reason behind Ofili's exclusion. The problems reportedly began in Cameroon, where Ofili refused to run in the semi-finals due to poor organization. She feared injury and, given the shambolic conditions, withdrew from the race. Other top athletes, including Marie Ta Lou from Côte d'Ivoire and Letsile Tebogo from Botswana, also pulled out of the event for similar reasons.

The source explained that Ofili's refusal to compete in Cameroon put her at odds with officials from the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), who were angered by her decision. They allegedly retaliated by excluding her from the 100-meter event in Paris under the pretense of "saving her energy" for the 4x100 relay – a decision made without consulting her or her coach.

"They targeted Ofili and made sure she was left out of the 100 meters, which she had qualified for. This was wickedness of the highest order," the source said. "Their actions demoralized the entire Team Nigeria. Ofili, who is outspoken, wasn’t willing to stay silent. They messed with the wrong person."

Further revelations suggest that Ofili's name was never on the 100-meter list from the start, as the Federation had falsely claimed. The decision to punish her for her actions in Cameroon ultimately contributed to Team Nigeria’s overall failure at the Olympics.

The source concluded with a damning verdict: "The minister is too weak and incapable of taking any meaningful action. This mismanagement has killed Team Nigeria."