Nigeria’s 2024 Olympics has ended in disaster as 88 athletes including Tobi Amusan, Ese Brume and Chidi Okezie who represented the country failed to secure a single medal.
The 2024 Summer Olympics, the 33rd edition of the Games being held in Paris, France started July 26, 204, and will end tomorrow, Sunday, August 11, 2024.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC), organisers of the Games, will hand over the flag to the host city of the next edition, Los Angeles, as part of the ceremonies marking the end of the Games.
Nigeria, which registered 88 athletes for the Games, is one of the 184 countries that were in Paris. But none of their performances could earn a medal for the country and would return home empty-handed.
After Tobi Amusan failed to qualify for the final of the 100m low hurdles on Friday, all Team Nigeria hopes of winning a medal were extinguished. The last straw was when Nigeria’s 4×400 men relay team, which had earlier on Friday qualified for the final, was later disqualified over a lane violation. The quartet for the 4×400 men relay race are; Emmanuel Ojeli, Ezekiel Nathaniel, Dubem Amene and Chidi Okezie.
In wrestling, Blessing Oborududu and Odunayo Adekuoroye, who were touted to win medals at the Games failed when it mattered most. While Adekuoroye did not reach the semifinal, even as Oborududu lost in the semis and equally lost the bronze medal match.
Ese Brume, who led two of her compatriots to the final of the women’s long jump final placed fifth on Friday, thereby failing to win a medal. Before her, track and field athletes were falling like a pack of cards.
The day’s heartbreak was completed when Joy Eze finished seventh in the women’s 71 kg Weightlifting event, lifting a total of 232kg.
Hannah Reuben was the last athlete left to salvage a medal for Nigeria, but she lost her second-round fight in women’s freestyle #wrestling 76kg, losing 5-2 (Victory by points) to Mongolia’s Davaanasan Amar Enkh on Saturday, August 10, 2024.
Nigeria had entered Football, Table Tennis, Basketball, Athletics, Cycling, Canoeing, Badminton, Boxing, Taekwondo, Weightlifting, and Swimming, but all ended with no colour of medal for the country. A whopping N9 billion was spent for the event.
‘Flowers don’t grow in a garden with stones’
Meanwhile, several prominent figures in Nigerian sports have criticized the country’s Olympic performances and outlined needed improvements.
Ama-Ebi Stow Ebikpolade Chairman of the Bayelsa State Table Tennis lamented that the problem faced by Nigerian table tennis athletes in the Olympics was a result of lack of preparation.
He talked about how our Nigerian table tennis federation should go back to the drawing board to get it right. he suggested Nigeria needs a foreign Coach to help mentor and train these athletes. He emphasizes the need for foreign coaches and good facilities.
Rena Wakama D’Tgress Coach stressed that the team needs the necessary support and encouragement from Nigeria. She emphasized the need for the Nigerian basketball federation to invest in the Talent in Nigeria. She stressed the need to prepare well to get good results.
Vanseki Ambrose former Olympic silver medalist lamented the failure of Nigeria to qualify for the men’s football event of the Olympics and the poor state of football in the country.
He stressed that as long as preparation for competitions is not prioritized, Nigeria will continue to falter and may not be able to qualify to participate in major football tournaments. He also lamented about the poor way Nigeria treats ex-internationals.
Godwin Okpara Former Nigeria International, has knocked the NFF having not appointed a head coach for the Super Eagles so far. He stated that the handlers of the team do not believe the Super Eagles can still qualify on their own to the competitions which could be the reason for the delayed appointment of the new head coach.
Edwin Okon former coach of Super Falcons lamented the lack of technical play by the women’s national team at the Olympics tournament. He further mentioned that the team consists of 17 professional players from different clubs and, hence should play better than they did. He emphasized that the right thing needs to be done to compete highly among other nations.
Theresa Mac Dangosu former guard of the D’Tigress lamented Nigeria allowed the USA team to dictate play on the offense.
Theresa mentioned that we only played with aggression on the defense but failed to carry the same energy on the offense. She also stressed that the Americans had a deeper bench and utilized the experience, and size of the players on their roasters.
Olusola Oyedele Nigeria’s boxing promoter highlighted some of the errors that plagued team Nigerian boxing contingent at the Olympic Games in Paris. He stated that preparations are left too late before the tournament begins hence resulting in bad performances by Nigerian boxers.
He explained the issue of Cynthia Ogunsemilore who was banned on the premises of failing a drug test, nothing that she never meant to enhance her performance, that she tried to get her weight in check before the fight. He blamed the leaders of the boxing federation for not educating the boxers enough.
‘Disaster’
The Minister of Sports Development, Senator John Enoh, has labeled Team Nigeria’s performance in the ongoing 2024 Paris Olympics as a ‘disaster’.
In a statement on X on Saturday, the minister noted that he would ensure such disappointing performance does not repeat itself.
He said, “Yesterday, I met with gentlemen of the press at the Nigerian Embassy in Paris for a press briefing following the country’s participation in the 2024 Olympics. As we go back home, we must do everything to prevent future occurrences of the Paris disaster and if this will entail the review of how people are elected to lead our sporting federations, it will be done.
“The elections for the federations are around the corner, and it will be the perfect platform to get only those who are most eligible to lead the various sports federations.
“Team Nigeria’s disappointing performance at the 2024 Paris Olympics, where the country did not secure any medals does not entail being addressed just by our participation at the Olympics, but it is a product of very many other things that need immediate attention.
“We did everything as a ministry to prepare the athletes adequately and provide them with every financial support, but unfortunately, the performance did not produce any podium finish,” he said.
He vowed to ensure that aspirants for the forthcoming sports federation elections are thoroughly scrutinised
“I am aware that the sports federations elections in Nigeria are even tougher than our national wlections. We must set our standards to scrutinise what motivates those vying to run the federations and get only the best hands.
“This call for reform aims to enhance the leadership and effectiveness of Nigeria’s sports federations, paving the way for improved performance on the global stage.”