Few days after the conclusion of the 2024 Olympic Games, sports loving Nigerians are still reeling with disappointment following the country’s dismal showing.
Nigeria went to Paris 2024 with 88 athletes and took part in 12 sporting events.
Much was expected from the likes of Tobi Amusan, Ese Brume, Blessing Oborodudu and other top athletes but the country returned home without a single medal.
Amusan is the current world record holder in the women’s 100m hurdles.
The 27-year-old, who finished fourth in the same event three years ago in Tokyo, was in fine form heading to Paris 2024.
The Commonwealth and African champion, however, failed to make it to the final, finishing third in the semi-final.
Brume, a bronze medallist three years ago in Tokyo also failed to fulfill expectations, finishing fifth in the women’s long jump final.
Another medalist (silver) from Tokyo, Blessing Oborodudu came close to winning a medal but was hampered by injury.
Other medal hopefuls, Favour Ofili, Odunayo Adekuroye and Chidi Okezie failed to deliver the goods.
Perhaps the only bright spot was Nigeria’s women’s basketball team, D’Tigress.
The African champions, against expectations, made it to the quarter-finals in the event, beating world number three and five (Australia and Canada) in the group stage.
D’Tigress succumbed gallantly to holders United States of America in the last eight.
The blame game is already on following the conclusion of hostilities in Paris. The questions many are asking is what are the reasons behind the country’s poor showing?
Why did the likes of Amusan, Brume, and Oborodudu fail to fulfill expectations? Did the sports ministry provide enough funds for the athletes to prepare for the games?
For seasoned athletics reporter, Cece Omorogbe, the country would need to do more in the area of preparation and welfare.
“We must learn the right thing to achieve the best result. Take the case of Udodi Onwuzurike as an example, this guy won the men’s 200m title at the World U-20 Championship three years ago in Nairobi, Kenya.
“Onwuzurike beat Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo to second position at the competition. Fast track to three years, Onwuzurike failed to make it to the final in Paris and Tebogo won the gold medal in the men’s 200m.
“The difference here is the support the two athletes received from their countries. Most Nigeria’s foreign-based athletes engage in part-time jobs abroad which hamper their development and performance.
As an athlete, you need total concentration, not combining it with another job.”
Atlanta ’96 women’s long jump gold medalist, Chioma Ajunwa also corroborated Omorogbe’s view.
“To win an Olympic medal is not an easy thing. Every country comes to the Olympics with the aim of winning gold,” Ajunwa said.
“For you to prepare, they give you four years. It’s not something you can achieve in six months or three months.
Athletes are preparing on their own. It’s like going to training and deciding to press your phone instead of focusing on your workout.
“When athletes train alone, they relax when tired, but with coaches, they are motivated to push through.”
Way forward
It’s back to the drawing board for Nigeria and the focus now should be to have a better outing at the next edition of the Olympics to be hosted in Los Angeles, United States of America.
Charles Ogundiya, an award winning journalist believes the country needs to invest more in sports to have different results in Los Angeles.
“There is no need to dwell in the past, we can’t change the result from Paris. The focus now should be on how to get a better result at the next Olympics.
“The blame game won’t solve anything. Some countries use like eight years to prepare for an Olympics. The minimum you can do is four years.
“Aside from that, funds must be made available for the athletes and also the right facilities.
These athletes pay nutritionists, coaches and do all other necessary things. There must be a proper plan and not the fire brigade approach we always adopt.
“There must also be continuity in the one we do. The sports ministers must follow the laid down plans of their predecessors. The idea of always starting all over again won’t help the country,” he stated.
Omorogbe has a different view on the way forward.
He had this to say: “It’s important for us to start preparing here in Nigeria and make use of our own coaches.
We used to have a high performance centre in Port Harcourt but I doubt if it is still functioning.
“Let’s work on our facilities here, not embark on a fruitless training tour in a few months to the start of the Olympics. Someone once said a foreign coach will never train you to beat his country’s athlete.
“The welfare of the athletes is very important. The government must do more in this area as well as the private sector. Even if you are the best, you still need that extra motivation to stay at the top.”
