By Paris, France – Nigeria has concluded its participation in the 2024 Paris Olympics without winning a single medal, marking a disappointing end to what was hoped to be a more successful outing for the West African nation.
The country’s last hope for a podium finish was dashed early Saturday when Hannah Reuben lost in the Women’s Freestyle 76kg wrestling event. Reuben was defeated 5-2 by Mongolia’s Enkh-Amaryn Davaanasan in the round of 16, sealing Nigeria’s fate at these Games.
Team Nigeria entered the Olympics with high expectations, especially following some strong performances in the qualifying rounds. The nation registered athletes in 12 events, but like in previous Games, these efforts did not translate into success on the Olympic stage.
The team, comprising about 77 athletes, faced a series of disappointing losses, and various administrative challenges further compounded their struggles. This marks the first time Nigeria has finished an Olympics without a medal since the London Games in 2012.
President Bola Tinubu had allocated ₦12 billion for Nigeria’s participation in both the Olympics and the Paralympics, with ₦9 billion earmarked for the former and ₦3 billion for the latter.
Despite this significant investment, the return was less than expected, leading to widespread disappointment among sports officials and fans alike.
In the wake of Nigeria’s poor showing in Paris, Minister of Sports Development, John Enoh, addressed the situation candidly. “Yesterday, I met with gentlemen of the press at the Nigerian Embassy in Paris for a debriefing following the country’s participation in the 2024 Olympics. As we go back home, we must do everything to prevent future occurrences of the Paris disaster and it will entail the review of how people are elected to lead our sporting federations,” Enoh wrote on his X handle on Saturday.
He also emphasized the importance of upcoming elections for sports federations, stating that they would be crucial in ensuring that the most qualified individuals are chosen to lead these bodies. “The elections for the federations are around the corner, and it will be the perfect opportunity to elect those who are most eligible to lead the various sports federations,” he added.
The disappointment in Nigeria’s Olympic performance was palpable. “Team Nigeria’s disappointing performance at the 2024 Paris Olympics, where the country did not secure any medals, does not entail being addressed just by our participation at the Olympics, but it is a product of very many other things that need immediate attention,” Enoh said.
He reiterated the government’s commitment to supporting athletes, highlighting that every effort had been made to prepare them adequately. “We did everything as a ministry to prepare the athletes adequately and provide them with every financial support, but unfortunately, the performance did not produce any podium finish.”
Nigeria’s medal-less outing at the Paris Games mirrors past Olympic performances, particularly in 1952 Helsinki, 1956 Melbourne, 1960 Rome, 1968 Mexico, 1980 Moscow, and 1988 Seoul, where the country similarly did not secure any medals.
CHANNELSTV.com
