Paris Blues: Nigeria’s Olympic Nightmare

For 16 days, the world turned its gaze to Paris, the City of Love, as it hosted the 33rd Olympic Games—a grand celebration of athleticism, dedication, and the indomitable human spirit. Records were shattered, new ones were set, and nations displayed their athletic prowess, the culmination of four years of relentless preparation. Among these nations was Nigeria, represented by 88 athletes across 12 different sports.

Yet, despite the efforts and hopes, left Paris without a single medal, embodying the classic Olympic quote by founder Baron Pierre de Coubertin: “The most important thing in the Olympic Games is not winning but taking part; the essential thing in life is not conquering but fighting well.” For Nigeria, this quote served as a flimsy gloss over what can only be described as a monumental failure.

This display of mediocrity from Team Nigeria is, unfortunately, nothing new. Since her Olympic debut in Helsinki in 1952, this marks the eighth time that Nigeria has ended the Games without a podium finish. It is also her worst performance since the London 2012 Olympics, a chastening experience for a nation that prides itself  as the ‘Giant of Africa.’

As expected, the now-typical flurry of excuses from the Minister of Sports, John Enoh, who took to social media in a desperate attempt to absolve his ministry of responsibility followed, doing little to cover up the disaster that unfolded in Paris.

 In this sea of disappointment were fleeting moments of promise. The D’Tigress, Nigeria’s women’s basketball team, made history by becoming the first African team to reach the quarterfinals after winning two group games against Australia and Canada. In another instance, the men’s 4x400m relay team placed second in the semifinals, only to be disqualified for a lane violation. These moments were only the beginning of Nigeria’s disappointment, which reached its peak when Tobi Amusan, the world record holder in the women’s 100m hurdles, unexpectedly crashed out in the semifinals.

Further controversy plagued the team when the Athletic Federation of Nigeria and the Nigeria Olympic Committee botched the registration of Favour Ofili in the women’s 100m. The Super Falcons exited in the group stage, and Nigeria’s boxers, wrestlers, weightlifters, and table tennis players all suffered similar fates.

For those nostalgic about Nigeria’s past Olympic glories, this was a bitter pill to swallow. But the signs were always there. Between London and Paris, Team Nigeria managed only three medals—none of them gold. In Rio 2016, the U23 men’s football team secured a bronze, while the delayed Tokyo 2020 Games saw Blessing Oborududu (wrestling) and Ese Brume (long jump) bring home medals. These scanty returns underscore a harsh reality: Team Nigeria is not up to par.

Meanwhile, other African nations excelled in areas Nigeria once dominated. Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo became the first African to win gold in the men’s 200m. Kenya, true to form, secured four gold medals, ranking 17th in the world, thanks to their strength in middle and long-distance races. Algeria, Uganda, Tunisia, South Africa, Ethiopia, Egypt, and Morocco all earned gold medals, while Ivory Coast and Zambia earned bronze. These countries’ successes contrast sharply with Nigeria’s failures, highlighting the systemic issues plaguing Nigerian sports.

A glance at the top-performing countries in the Olympics, such as the United States, China, and Japan, reveals a common factor that they share with successful African nations: robust economic conditions. These countries’ strong economies significantly influence their athletic success on the global stage. Wealthier nations are able to invest heavily in sports infrastructure, advanced training facilities, and health programs, which are crucial for developing world-class athletes. 

There’s a clear correlation between a country’s GDP and its Olympic performance, with wealthier nations typically securing more medals. For example, studies have shown that higher GDP and per capita income are strongly associated with a greater number of Olympic medals. This trend is visible in emerging markets as well, where improvements in economic conditions have translated into better Olympic results.

There’s been a surge in the number of athletes representing other countries, finding the success that eluded them under the Nigerian flag. Africa’s Hammer throw champion, Annette Echikunwoke opted to compete for Nigeria in 2021 but was ultimately failed by the country’s flawed administrative system.   This year, she made history as the first American woman to win a medal in the hammer throw—a victory she achieved after breaking free from the constraints of Nigerian sports. 

Why does this problem persist?  Ahead of the 2024 Olympics, the Federal Government of Nigeria released 12 billion naira for Team Nigeria’s preparations. On the surface, this might seem like substantial support, but a closer look reveals the flaws in this approach. Rather than consistent funding and support over four years, which would foster the development of world-class athletes, the funds were disbursed too late to make  any significant impact.

Most Nigerian athletes in track and field, for example, rely on NCAA scholarship programs in the United States for training, unlike in Jamaica, where athletes train locally with robust government support through a well-managed sports ministry.

Additionally, the systemic issues within Nigeria’s sports federations, including poor funding, mismanagement, and the prioritization of politics over merit in appointments, further cripple the nation’s athletic potential. National competitions like the National Sports Festival have become shadows of their former selves, reduced to opportunities for fund embezzlement rather than talent development.

The appointment of novices as sports ministers exacerbates these problems. Since 1999, successive Nigerian presidents have treated sports ministries as political rewards rather than an avenue for appointing capable administrators with the wisdom to nurture talent and drive excellence.

Nigeria’s path to redemption lies in reviving the National Sports Festival and restoring national meets in athletics, table tennis, basketball, handball, volleyball, and other sports. With a stronger national economy, private sector sponsors would return, bringing much-needed investment into Nigerian sports. Without a fundamental overhaul of the system, Nigeria will continue to falter on the world stage, a classic case of reaping what is sown.