Nigeria Coaches Association president, Gabriel Opuana, said the country’s overall performance at the African Games was down to the hard work of coaches and their athletes.
Against the background of inadequate planning and funding of sports, Nigeria remains a sporting giant in continental and global contests.
“This is down to the hard work of our coaches across all sports,” Opuana said.
“At the African Games, they have done excellently well winning a record number of medals that is not commissurate to our preparations.
“Kudos to all the coaches and athletes they keep doing the country proud, despite the limiting conditions.”
As the Ghana 2023 Games draw to a close, Nigeria is tagging behind Egypt in terms of medals won. Egypt with a numerical strength in several sports, has a run away advantage of 94 gold medals compared to Nigeria’s 37 gold and South Africa’s 27 gold ahead of the closing day events.
“This is why it is necessary we develop more sports. With the seize of our population, we can do better.
“Coaches are eager to work. There are athletes to be discovered and groomed, but we have to fund sports development like Egypt is doing. For sure, we can harvest up to 100 gold medals.
“The sports ministry, corporate bodies, well to do individuals should provide funding and sponsorships for all sports as a first step.
“We need to have more trained coaches and grassroots sports participation in line with best international practice.”
He added the nation’s sporting authorities should start preparing for the 2024 Olympics in earnest, so that the Nigerian athletes with good chances of winning medals to can live up to expectations in Paris.
