Many Nigerian athletes have lost out of the ongoing Olympic Games at Rio, due to their poor performance at various events. In light of this early exit, several allegations have trailed the efficiency of the Nigeria’s Sports Ministry as well as the ability of the athletes.
Being the most populous state in Africa, Nigeria is expected to produce the best athletes in the continent as a dividend of its population strength. Unfortunately, it appears that the country has not been able to utilise its acclaimed strength as large numbers of its athletes have been sent packing from Rio.
Nigeria’s Minister of Youth and Sports, Solomon Dalung, revealed high hopes that Nigeria will at least win 5 medals at the Rio Olympic Games. However, it seems Dalung’s optimism was in vain. Maybe next time though!
Here’s a list of Nigerian Athletes that are out of Rio:
• Segun Toriola: The veteran Nigerian table tennis player has bowed out of the ongoing Olympic Games at Rio. The don, who made his 7th Olympic Games appearance at Rio, was defeated by Niwa Kiko of Japan. Before the game, he lodged a complaint, citing poor preparation and stating that this might affect Nigeria’s performance at Rio. He was right, I think.
• Chierika Ukogu: The famous lady, who made history for her historic placement in the rowing event is out of the Olympic Games. Ukogu, who sponsored herself to Rio, left at the quarter final stage.
• Efe Ajagba: A renowned Nigerian boxer is also out of the Olympic Games. Ajagba, who knocked out his first opponent in 23 seconds, met his end at the quarter finals, during a battle with his Kazakhstani opponent.
• Nigerian Female Wrestlers: The embattled Nigerian female wrestlers have also been shown the way out of Rio. Mercy Genesis, Oluwafunmilayo and Amuchechi Reuben were defeated by their opponents at the Olympics and should be in Nigeria now.
• Divine Oduduru: The famous Nigerian athlete, aka “#INeverExperredIt” crashed out of the Olympic Games last night after failing to qualify for the men’s 200meter finals race. Oduduru, who ran with Usain Bolt coming in second at the quarter finals, came in the seventh position at the semi finals. I guess the “black man blood” is not working anymore and “no one died on the line.”
• D’Tigers Basketball Team: The Nigerian men’s basketball team also received an early exit ticket from Rio. D’Tiger team lost to the Brazilian team after high hopes that they would make the quarter finals.
• Dream Team battle for Bronze: Nigeria U-23 football will be battling for bronze against Honduras, after a 2-0 loss against Germany. Many were optimistic that the Dream Team VI will bring home a medal but now, those hopes are shattered.
Why the poor performance at Rio?
Several factors can be attributed to the poor performance of Nigerian athletes at the Olympic Games this year. Scores of analysts have incessantly pointed some out but, certain issues need to be highlighted.
A central reason for their poor performance at Rio is poor preparation. From the very beginning of the games, the Nigerians were ill prepared and this was shown by the team’s late arrival in Rio and the unavailability of their costumes during the opening ceremony. A major setback on its own. An analyst from Newsweek noted that “Nigeria’s preparations for Rio 2016 have been fraught with calamities—missed flights, absent funds and a positive doping test.”
The fastest man in Nigeria, Seye Ogunlewe, also disclosed his grievances about Nigeria’s shambolic preparation for the Olympic Games as he stated it as a reason for their medal drought. He also urged the Ministry of Sports to take after other medal winning countries.
“Nigeria needs to look at what other countries that are getting medals are doing and we need to do it as well. If we don’t, we will not get to where they are. We can’t just keep relying on prayers and hope, we need to put the work in as well,” he said.
Another major factor that could be attributed to Nigeria’s poor preparation at Rio is corruption as well as politicisation of the nation’s Sports Ministry. There is no sector that corruption hasn’t ruined in the Nigerian state. This is evident in the Transparency International’s annual index, which ranked Nigeria as 136 out 168 corrupt countries of the world.
Fidelis Gadzama, a former Nigerian athlete, lamented that Nigerian sports sector has been hijacked by politicians as funds meant for athletes are being reverted to their purses instead. He further stated that when athletes, do not get the funding meant for them and with that, poor performance becomes inevitable.
“That culture has got to stop. We are a giant of Africa for nothing. We are 170 million [people] for nothing,” he fumed
It is believed that these lapses will be amended in future as Nigeria needs to redeem its past glory.
