Paris 2024: Favour Ofili gets difficult lane beside Olympic champion Julien Alfred as she chases Nigeria's first medal since 1996

Star Girl Favour Ofili's chances of medalling in the women's 200m final will face a challenging test after being drawn in a difficult lane beside Olympic 100m champion Julien Alfred.

Ofili qualified from her semifinal heat in impressive form, as she blazed to a Season's Best performance of 22.03s to finish second behind Alfred's 21.98s and is highly rated as one of the top favourites for a medal.

Her impressive time was third-fastest overall, with Nigerian fans highly excited that if she can replicate the same performance or lower the time, her chances of winning the country's first athletics medal at Paris 2024 Olympics are on the bright side.

Ironically, their joy was cut short when it was confirmed that Ofili would be running on the most difficult lane sprinters dare (lane 9), and not just that she'll line up beside the fastest runners in the event this season Alfred (lane 8) and Gabby Thomas (lane 7), while NCAA champion Mckenzie Long will be on lane 6.

Ofili would have to be at her best if she were to overcome the pressure from the fast inside runners, a situation that can be a blessing in disguise to propel her into the medal zone.

In addition, Lane 9 is known to be a lucky charm for sprinters in finals - worthy mentions in Sha'Carri Richardson winning the 2023 world title in Budapest and South Africa's Wayde Van Niekerk clocking a 400m World Record to win the Rio 2016 Olympic title.

Ofili is currently feeding on the hunger to succeed, following the disappointment of the AFN and NOC failing to register her in the 100m event, and all this working together the 21-year-old can become Nigeria's first Olympic 200m medallist since Mary Onyali stormed to a bronze medal at Atlanta 1996.