Sports stakeholders in Nigeria are demanding a forensic investigation into Team Nigeria’s disappointing performance at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, where the country failed to secure a single medal for the eighth time in Olympic history.
The call for a probe comes after Team Nigeria concluded its campaign in Paris without any podium finishes, echoing past underwhelming performances from previous Olympics, including those in Helsinki (1952), Melbourne (1956), Rome (1960), Mexico (1968), Moscow (1980), Seoul (1988), and London (2012).
On Tuesday in Abuja, several sports enthusiasts expressed their frustration over the lack of medals and called for a comprehensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding the Games. Donatus Agu-Ejidike, Nigeria’s Pillar of Sports, urged the National Assembly and relevant authorities to initiate a forensic probe. He emphasized that such an investigation is crucial to understanding and preventing the issues that led to the poor performance.
Agu-Ejidike criticized the administrative failures that led to the exclusion of potential medalists, such as Favour Ofili, and lamented the loss of Nigerian athletes who switched allegiance to other countries due to administrative inefficiencies. He highlighted the cases of Annette Echikunwoke, who won a silver medal for the U.S. in Hammer Throw, and Yemisi Ogunleye, who secured gold for Germany in Shot Put.
He described Team Nigeria’s performance as “shambolic and unacceptable” and called for accountability regarding the over ₦12 billion allocated for the Games. Agu-Ejidike questioned the use of the funds and demanded answers on the non-registration of key athletes and the exclusion of the D’Tigresses from the opening ceremony.
Ahmed Gara-Gombe, Chairman of the Gombe State Athletics Association, also voiced his concerns, urging President Bola Tinubu to consider dismissing the Sports Minister. Gara-Gombe criticized the exclusion of top athlete Ofili and called for severe sanctions against key officials, including the Sports Minister, the President of the Nigerian Olympic Committee (NOC), Habu Gumel, and the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) President, Tonobok Okowa.
Sports Entrepreneur Gara-Gombe accused the Sports Minister of promoting corruption within the sector and failing to address the inefficiencies that led to the poor performance. He argued that the Minister has ignored crucial feedback and failed to rectify ongoing issues in Nigerian sports.
Godwin Bamigboye, National Coordinator of the Association of Football Administrators in Nigeria (AFAN), blamed the poor performance on inadequate funding and political interference in sports administration. He criticized the appointment of inexperienced sports ministers and called for a revival of national sports competitions and better management of sports federations.
Isaiah Benjamin, President of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), also criticized the performance, attributing it to administrative incompetence and negligence. Benjamin noted the stark contrast between the promises made by sports authorities and the actual preparation for the Games. He highlighted the need for a fresh approach to managing Nigeria’s sports talents and ensuring better preparation for future international events.
The consensus among the stakeholders is that Nigeria’s sports sector requires urgent reform to address these issues and improve future performances on the global stage.
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