Nigeria Wrestling Federation President Daniel Igali has called on the Federal Government to take sports development seriously following Team Nigeria’s disappointing performance at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Igali, a world and Olympic champion, criticized the “fire brigade approach” to tournaments, which he believes has contributed to the underdevelopment of sports across the country .
Igali emphasized the need for Nigeria to refocus on age-grade competitions to excel in international events, stressing that deliberate steps must be taken to eliminate age cheating, which undermines the purpose of youth tournaments.
“To address this challenge, we must adopt a proactive approach. The government would have to take sports development seriously,” he said.
The Delta State Government received commendation from Igali for hosting the Youth Games, but he expressed displeasure over age-cheating in the tournament.
Igali described the youth games as “the most important competition we have in the country today.” He also frowned at some states’ win-at-all-costs mentality, which discredits the efforts of others.
Igali called for the encouragement of grassroots sports development at all levels. As a United World Wrestling member, he assured his continued involvement in the Wrestling Federation’s activities, contributing to its growth and development beyond his tenure.
Before the Paris Olympics, Igali had expressed confidence in the team’s potential, stating that the Nigeria Wrestling Federation is a serious federation and the athletes were prepared . The team consisted of six wrestlers, including Blessing Oborududu and Esther Kolawole, who had expressed optimism for a podium finish.
Igali’s concerns about sports development in Nigeria are not new. He has previously emphasized the need for a proactive approach and criticized the “win at all costs” mentality. Igali also announced that he will not be seeking re-election as President of the Nigeria Wrestling Federation.
As the President of the Nigeria Wrestling Federation, Igali has been working towards ensuring Nigeria’s success in wrestling.
He was re-elected as President of the Nigerian Wrestling Federation in 2017 and has been instrumental in promoting wrestling in Nigeria
