A final nail might have been hit into the coffin of speculation regarding the possibility of USA-based female sprinter, Favour Ofili being part of Nigeria’s contingent to this year’s Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland.
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Sports247 reports that Ofili’s likely absence from the upcoming Games is on account of the absence of the ‘want-away’ athlete’s name from a list of 29 invitees released by the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN).
This is a follow-up to comments attributed to Ofili’s coach, Dennis Shaver, ahead of the recent national trials at Yaba College of Technology, when the gaffer specifically directed that the athlete’s name be removed from the list of competitors.
Consequently, despite being cleared to compete for Nigeria, after her request for a nationality switch to represent Turkey was rejected by World Athletics, Ofili is not listed among athletes who will embark on a three-week overseas training camp.
Ahead of the training camp scheduled to open on July 2nd in Aberdeen, Scotland, top brass of Nigeria Sports Commission (NSC) expressed optimism that the 29 track and field athletes will live up to expectations by winning medals for the country.
Top of the list is two-time Commonwealth Games gold medalist hurdler, Tobi Amusan, along with men’s 100m African record holder, Kayinsola Ajayi, new national champion, Favour Ashe, as well as long jumper Ese Brume and Chukwuebuka Enekwechi for shot put.
Also named for the men’s 100m, 200m and 4x100m are Alaba Akintola, Chidera Ezeakor, Adekalu Fakorede, Israel Okon and Udodi Onwuzuruike; with Samuel Ogazi, Edidiong Udo, Tyler Johnson and Ezekiel Nathaniel listed for 400m and mixed 4x400m.
Others are: men’s 400m hurdles – Ezekiel Nathaniel; men’s decathlon – Jami Schlueter; men’s javelin – Chinecherem Nnamdi; women’s high jump – Temitope Adeshina; women’s shot put – Jessica Oji; and women’s hammer throw – Oyesade Olatoye.
Also in the list are: women’s 100m, 200m and 4x100m – Blessing Ogundiran, Rosemary Chukwuma, Tima Godbless, Miracle Ezechukwu, Olayinka Olajide and Obi Chukwuka; women’s 400m and mixed 4x400m – Patience Okon-George, Ella Onojuvwevwo, Favour Onyah and Esther Joseph.
