By VICTOR ALI
SINCE Nigeria gained its independence on October 1, 1960, sports have been a veritable instrument for fostering unity amidst its many fault lines. In spite of the nation’s diversity in cultural, ethnic, regional and religious differences, sports have proven to be the elixir needed to ease the stress from the myriad problems bedeviling the country. There is no sporting event in which Nigeria is not performing well on the world stage. Certainly, the experiences have been both juicy and sour over the years, sports-wise.
Unarguably, the biggest sporting event in the world is the Olympics. Even before independence in 1960, Nigeria participated in the Olympics, starting in 1952 in Helsinki, Germany. Thereafter, it participated in subsequent Olympic games held every four years, with the 1996 Atlanta, United States of America, being the most glorious Games for the country.
At the Atlanta Olympic Games, Nigeria stunningly won the gold medal in football against all odds, and Chioma Ajunwa added the icing on the cake with a gold medal in the long jump. These and many other feats brought the country’s sporting talents to global recognition.
Football, in particular, among other sports, has been followed with religious tenacity by the majority of Nigerians, without bias towards tribe or religion. As a big industry, thousands, or even millions, of Nigerians ply their trade both at home and in the diaspora. Needless to say, the huge remittances from diaspora players have added value to the nation’s economy.
There is no gainsaying the fact that other sports have equally stamped the country’s authority on the world map. Basketball, boxing, athletics, cycling, paralympics – you name it – Nigeria, in the last 64 years, has become an enigma.
It should be pointed out that, not just in the Olympic Games but also in other continental and sub-continental championships, Nigeria has had its ups and downs. The records from both the men’s and women’s football world cups and the West Africa Football Union (WAFU) Cup are glaringly clear.
In football, Nigeria first qualified for the men’s World Cup in 1994. The Super Eagles dazzled the world with their soccer artistry, earning a second-round ticket in the event. In all, in the last 64, Nigeria has participated in 6 World Cup events with varying degrees of success or failure.
We, as a people and a nation, cannot shy away from the fact that sports activities have been on the decline. The worst pointer to this assertion is the recently concluded Paris Olympic Games.
Having spent a whopping 12 billion naira in preparation for the Games, Team Nigeria went and came back empty-handed. Though the Paralympic Team Nigeria later won some medals, it still did not assuage the feelings of Nigerians. The country now wonders what went awry, considering that supposedly less endowed countries from the continent excelled in Paris.
It was in light of this that the Sports Minister, John Enoh, described Nigeria’s outing at the last Olympics as a “disaster,” apologising to Nigerians, especially sports-loving citizens, who watched the country’s disgraceful outing. He remarked that heads would roll if things must be made right. True to his word, at present, a seven-man panel has been set up by the Federal Ministry of Youths and Sports Development to unravel the disaster that was the Paris Olympic Games. But it remains to be seen if the outcome will have any impact on the performance of Nigerian athletes in future international meets.
In its editorial titled ‘Nigeria’s shameful Olympics performance’, THE NIGERIA STANDARD, (Wednesday, August 28, 2024), noted, “Sports administration in Nigeria is an all-comers affair. This explains why the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) has been a serial offender in Nigeria’s humiliation at the Games. Favour Ofili, a female sprinter and a medal hopeful, was not registered for the 100 metres race in Paris after she had toiled and prepared herself for four years for the event.
“She had also been a victim of the AFN’s negligence in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, which saw ten (10) Nigerian athletes denied participation in their various events. That is not all. A female cyclist had to borrow a bike from the German Cycling Federation to train because Nigeria could not provide one for her.”
The paper also revealed that the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) rule requires three out-of-competition tests within 10 months in the build-up to a major tournament, which our athletes’ noncompliance inevitably ruled them out of during the Tokyo Olympics. The AFN is responsible for ensuring that this doesn’t happen, but again, they failed to fulfil their responsibility.
What really happened to Nigerian sports? Lot provided the answer: “The nonchalant attitude of the heads of federations should no longer be tolerated. Technical directors, who are the engine rooms of all associations, should ensure they establish development programmes for any competition at least three years ahead.”
The aforementioned STANDARD editorial further elaborates on the way forward: “To redeem the image of the country, Nigeria needs to take a hard and critical look at her sports administration. Our athletes must be prepared early enough, just like their counterparts in other climes. The country’s raw talent can be harnessed from there.
“Furthermore, we must prioritise upgrading our facilities and appoint knowledgeable sportspeople to run the various sports federations. Nigeria must ensure that, since sports are mainly undertaken by the youth, they are involved in fashioning out policies that pertain to that sector.”
Indeed, the panacea for revamping, rejuvenating, and rediscovering Nigeria’s dwindling fortunes in sports lies in adequate funding, professional expertise and sporting policies and programmes to enhance sports development. With the Renewed Hope agenda of the President Tinubu administration, there may possibly be light at the end of the tunnel.
It is heartwarming that at the recently concluded Nigeria Youth Games, the Federal Government, through the Ministry of Sports, pledged its commitment towards ‘catching them young’ at the sports level. Such avowed commitment must be rigorously pursued to its logical conclusion.
Happy independence anniversary to Nigeria’s sports-loving family!
And as we celebrate sixty-four years of sports in Nigeria, it is important to acknowledge both the successes and the failures. Sports have been a unifying force, providing hope, pride and inspiration to millions of Nigerians, even amidst the nation’s numerous challenges. From the glory of Atlanta 1996 to the disappointing results in recent years, one thing remains clear: the passion for sports in Nigeria runs deep.
Moving forward, if the country can implement the necessary reforms and investments, improve sports administration and nurture young talents with a structured developmental programme, the future of sports in Nigeria can once again shine brightly on the global stage. The key lies in leadership, planning, and commitment. Only then will Nigeria be able to reclaim its glory in the world of sports and set new records for future generations.