The story of Nigerian athletics participation in the Paris 2024 Olympics, which draw to a close Sunday, is pathetic as the country, is set to return home without a medal.
This is country if nothing else has athletes with potentials to rescue at least two medals.
But the nation could do was Chukwuebuka Enekwechi reaching the final of the men’s shot put, Samuel Ogazi the men’s 400m, Favour Ofili the women’s 200m, Ese Brume, Ruth Usoro and Prestina Ochonogor the women’s long jump.
That was the score card of a country that won gold, one silver and two bronze at the Atlanta 1996 Olympics Games. At the 2000 Olympics Nigeria won gold in the men’s 4x400m and silver in the women’s 100mh. Athens 2004 the country won bronze in men’s 4x400m and bronze 4x100m.
Speaking on the outing of the athletics team and other Nigerian sports in Paris 2024, former Athletics Federation of Nigeria president, Dan Ngerem noted that the dismal performance of Team Nigeria was a long time consequences of unprofessional conduct and lack of competence in the management of Nigerian sports.
“It’s quite painful and sad what is going on with our sports at the Olympics,” said Mr. Ngerem.
“The beat goes on and so who is that numero uno leader who will understand the potentials, power and leveraging attributes of sports the multi billion dollar industry where Nigeria has comparative advantage in terms of natural endorsement/talent?”
Mr. Ngerem who was on the saddle of the AFN leadership between 2001 and 2005 pointed at the episode of Anette Echikunwoke who dumped Nigeria after experiencing the raw deal of chaotic Nigerian sports management. Echikunwoke won silver in the hammer throw for the USA after she dropped the Nigerian jersey. She was of of the 14 athletes disqualified from Olympics 2020 in Japan due to Nigeria not meeting up with doping regulations requirements.
After the Games Echikunwoke was almost stranded in Japan as Nigerian Sports Ministry officials held on to her $2000 allowance, it was her parents who wired money to her from the USA to bail her out.
“Because of lack of capacity and competence on the part of the AFN and the Sports Ministry, Nigeria lost a lady who went on to win silver for the USA.
“There are so many Nigerian athletics talents representing different countries and winning medals.
“Reminisce of Chris Akabusi decades ago who opted to represent Nigeria, but was completely ignored. He went on to win gold for Britain in the same athletics at the Barcelona 1992 Olympics. Will things ever change?”
More painful to the AFN boss and indeed other Nigerian athletics buffs was Tobi Amusan failing to reach the final of the women’s 100mh, an event she set a world record in 2021.
“The moral and spirits of the entire team must be at its lowest for all that disappointing display.
I am not really that surprised!!
“I am still wondering who’s coaching Tobi and what were they thinking and why she had to peak at such levels during the heats,” added Mr. Ngerem.
He called for an overhaul of Nigerian sports administration if the country desires to make any impact at world sporting contest in the years to come.
“For instance look at the Nigeria Olympic Committee president Gumel, who at 75 and counting has not organized any meaningful event in his federation in the last two decades still at helm and probably will contest again and win to represent Nigeria.
“A quintessential example of a nation in distress and one that is toying with the leveraging power of sports and sports business.”
