Nigeria’s leading sprinter, Favour Ofili, who is among the athletes listed for the 2025 World Athletics Relays billed to hold in Guangzhou, China, on May 10 and 11, is threatening to boycott the competition, citing unresolved issues from the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
 
Ofili was erroneously omitted from Nigeria’s 100-metre women’s list at the multi-sports fiesta in France. Then Sports Minister, John Owan Enoh, vowed to get to the root of the issue and punish those responsible for error.

However, last Monday, Ofili complained that rather than tackle the issues, those who caused her name to be removed from the team list have been listed among officials going to China for the World Relays.

Speaking through a close confidant, Ofili said that “developments in Nigerian athletics show that officials don’t reckon with the athletes and therefore choose to do whatever they like because there will not be any consequence.

“There was a panel to investigate the events in Paris and some people were indicted by a panel set up to investigate the incident. Now, those people indicted have been selected again to lead the contingent to China. “It means we don’t matter at all. This is very disheartening,” she said.

The Nigerian team to the World Relays is made up of 17 athletes, who will compete in four events in Guangzhou. They will represent the country in the Men’s 4x100m relay, Women’s 4x100m relay, Mixed 4x100m relay, and Mixed 4x400m relay.

The selected athletes are Ofili, Tobi Amusan, Chidi Okezie, Rosemary Chukwuma, Success Umukoro, Tiana Eyakpobeyan, and Jennifer Chukwuka.
Others are Favour Ashe, Usheoritse Itsekiri, Alaba Akintola, Udodi Onwuzurike, Fola Olaoye, Karlington Anunagba, Patience Okon George, Omolara Ogunmakinju, Samson Nathaniel, and Ifeanyi Ojeli.

Ofili, Amusan, Chukwuma, Umukoro, Chukwuka and Eyakpobeyan are listed for the women’s 4x100m relay.The Guardian also learnt that Udodi Onwuzurike would be engaged during the relays and therefore will not make the trip to China.

The officials leading the Nigerian team to China are Inwang Israel, Samuel Onikeku, Deji Aliu, Gabriel Okon, Victor Okorie, Teye Endurance, Anozie Nnaemeka and Ologunoba John.