Ese Ukpeseraye of Nigeria said she had to compete on a bicycle lent by the German team. GETTY IMAGES

Nigeria’s Ese Ukpeseraye revealed that she was forced to compete with a borrowed bicycle in the keirin and sprint at the Paris Olympics on Thursday. After revealing on social media that she did not have the equipment to compete, the German team lent her their bicycle for the event.

Ukpeseraye, who also competed in the women’s road race on 4 August, explained that she was called to participate in the second event on "short notice" and lacked the proper equipment. In a remarkable display of sportsmanship, the German cycling team stepped in to lend Ukpeseraye a bike, enabling her to compete. Or so Ukpeseraye thought. 

The Nigerian's post has generated backlash from her countrymen, who were already critical of their country’s Olympic organisation after failing to register sprinter Favour Ofili in the 100m race. Nigeria’s Minister of Sports Development, John Enoh, has since refuted the claim, saying the federation was able to secure a bicycle for the cyclist. 



Enoh hoped to clarify the situation and said that Nigeria was not originally supposed to compete in the two events. The notification from the cycling federation came through after their Olympic delegation had already left for the Games, without the equipment that would be needed for the cycling competitions. 

"Team Nigeria was fully prepared for this road race until two weeks ago after the Cycling team with the rest of Team Nigeria had already left for the Olympics, that a communication from the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) was received reallocating additional slots to the Cyclist Federation of Nigeria (keirin and individual sprint).



"Unfortunately, this additional slot required the use of a different competition equipment in terms of biking. For this track race reallocated to Team Nigeria, very special equipment (approved specifically for the Olympic track game) is used. 

"It’ll take months to have it delivered after ordering and making payment. To therefore get Ese to compete, the Federation through Ese’s Club in Europe and working with a German-owned Company, got a 'Track Bike' for our cycler Ese," he explained.

Ukpeseraye, the only African among 30 keirin competitors, finished sixth in her heat, missing out on an automatic spot in the quarter-finals. In the repechage round, which offers a second chance, Ukpeseraye finished fifth, beating host France’s Divine Kouame but not advancing to the next stage. She is slated to represent Nigeria in the women’s sprint on Friday afternoon.

Cycling’s qualifying rounds for women's sprint begin at 14:00 CEST.