The Minister of Sports Development, John Enoh, has issued an apology to Nigerians following Team Nigeria’s disappointing performance at the 2024 Paris Olympics, where the nation failed to win any medal.
Nigeria officially concluded its participation in the 2024 Olympics in Paris, France, without securing a single medal.
Hannah Reuben was the last hope for Nigeria on Saturday, competing in the women’s freestyle wrestling 76kg category. However, she was defeated 5-2 (victory by points) in her second-round match against Mongolia’s Davaanasan Amar Enkh.
In a statement Enoh personally signed on Saturday, he expressed his regret, saying, “The Olympic Games, Paris 2024, have concluded, and I acknowledge that our performance fell significantly short of our goals, expectations, and the hopes of Nigerians.
“I must extend my apologies to our fellow citizens and reflect on what went wrong as we turn our attention to the Paralympic Games, Paris 2024 (August 28–September 8th).
“When I assumed office as the Minister of Sports Development in August 2023, I was immediately faced with the challenge of overseeing four major international competitions: the AFCON, the African Games, and the Olympic and Paralympic Games, all within a few months. I was reminded that the Olympic Games is the pinnacle of global sports competition, requiring at least four years of preparation.
“However, upon discussions with the Ministry’s management staff, I discovered that preparations for the Olympics, which was less than a year away, had not even begun.
“In true Nigerian spirit, we resolved to spare no effort in maintaining our country’s international sports reputation. Our objective was to replicate or surpass the success of Atlanta 1996.
“To this end, we adopted a progressive strategy to enhance the performance of our athletes and coaches. In my first week in office, I requested that all National Sports Federations provide me with their plans and programs. I also conducted a nationwide inspection of our sports facilities.
“Throughout this process, the President and Commander in Chief of the Federation, HE Bola Ahmed Tinubu, ensured that funding was not a constraint. The necessary competition requirements for athletes were met, allowances were paid promptly, and training grants were disbursed to all athletes. I remained readily available to address any issues throughout the competition. Therefore, the team’s underwhelming performance is both puzzling and disappointing. We owe Nigerians an explanation.
“There are undoubtedly many lessons to be learned from our performance, and improvements must be made in every aspect. The last time we returned from the Olympics without a medal was in 2012. In the subsequent two Olympics, we earned a bronze medal in 2016 and both a silver and bronze in the 2020 Olympics.”
“As a nation, we deserve better. Let’s transform the disappointing outcome of the 2024 Olympics into a significant positive for Nigerian sports,” he said.
