Nigeria ends Olympic campaign without any medal
Against all expectations, Nigeria's 19th appearance at the Olympic Games ended in a fiasco, failing to win a medal at Paris 2024, which concludes on Sunday (today) after 16 days of intense jostling for medals,
After winning two medals (silver and bronze) at the previous edition in Tokyo, everyone expected Team Nigeria to aim higher, but they fell short on all fronts, despite the massive N9 billion in federal government funds that the National Olympic Committee submitted to the presidency for approval.
The country sent 88 athletes to compete in 12 sports and came away empty-handed, making it Nigeria's worst Olympics performance since London 2012, as notable medal prospects Tobi Amusan, Blessing Oborududu, Favour Ofili, Ese Brume, and Quadri Aruna fell short in their respective events.
Controversies marred Nigeria's campaign, as they have in almost every international appearance. Ofili's name was inexplicably left off the women's 100m roster for which she had qualified. The age-old kitting crisis resurfaced, with athletes receiving two separate kits from the Athletes Federation of Nigeria and the National Olympic Committee.
Hannah Reuben was the country's last hope for a medal after Amusan failed, but she lost her second-round fight in the women's freestyle wrestling 76 kg, 5-2 (victory by points) to Mongolia's Davaanasan Amar Enkh on Saturday.
Only D'Tigress gave Nigerians something to cheer about, as Rena Wakama's team defied the odds to reach the Women's Basketball Tournament quarterfinals, becoming the first African team to do so in Olympic basketball.
Their commendable performance supported the objective selection of players by a coach with tactical and technical expertise.
Their adventure ended with an 88-74 loss to perennial champions the United States, but Wakama's charges completely outplayed the Americans in the fourth quarter, becoming the only team to put them on the back foot in many years.
The memorable performance is based on Wakama's contagious enthusiasm for the game, pride in being Nigerian, and belief that leading the team is more than just a job.
"I'm very proud. We accomplished this in one year, and I'm overjoyed. This is only the beginning. I am Nigerian, and this is my home. "I wanted to take the job because I wanted to inspire and build in my hometown," the record-breaking coach explained.
Meanwhile, it's been all doom and gloom in the Team Nigeria camp, with athletes and officials wearing long faces and the Minister of Sports Development, John Enoh, fuming over the fiasco, threatening to rid the various sports federations of officials who lack the necessary ideas for success.
"I know that elections to the Federations are coming, and it will be the ideal platform for selecting only those with something to offer to lead the various sports." I am aware that the Sports Federation Elections in Nigeria are even more difficult than our National Elections, and you will begin to wonder why," said Enoh, who is dissatisfied with Nigeria's performance at the multi-sport event.
Meanwhile, interim Nigeria Boxing Federation President Azania Omo-Agege has urged the minister to conduct an inquest into the federation's affairs following the controversy and failure in Paris.
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