Despite the lack of medals from tournaments at the Paris 2024 Olympics, our Nigerian sports women showed true grit, passion, and determination, which shine even brighter than gold.
In the aftermath of the 2024 Paris Olympics, the official medal table tells one story: Nigeria finished without winning a single medal for the first time since the 2012 London Olympics. This happened despite Nigeria fielding its largest-ever team at the Olympics, with 88 athletes competing across 12 sporting events, including athletics, basketball, football, and wrestling. The news left a sour taste in the mouths of many Nigerians, filled with sadness and disappointment.
A country with over 200 million human beings calling themselves “citizens” not winning any medal in an Olympics tournament is the wildest thing I’ve seen since birth.
There are over 1000 medals to be won, but Nigeria came back with zero Golds, zero Silvers & zero Bronze medals.
— Jalo Abba II (@JaloAbba) August 11, 2024
Nigera is disappointing the whole African continent in every department pic.twitter.com/0UGiP7n55D
— SPURRA🐐 (@Maluda012) August 10, 2024
However, there is another untold story. While they may have left without medals, they won something perhaps more valuable—respect, admiration, and a spotlight on both their immense potential and the hurdles they face.
As we unpack the stories of these remarkable women, we’re also forced to confront uncomfortable truths about the state of women’s sports in Nigeria. We’re compelled to ask hard questions about funding, infrastructure, and the systems that should propel our athletes to greatness but often hold them back.
Let’s get into some key examples in detail:
The roaring resilience of the D’tigress squad
The Nigerian women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, made history by winning a match for the first time since the 2004 Olympics in Athens. Their journey to Paris was fraught with challenges, including the endurance of long-hour road trips to pre-tournament games—which violates the welfare code of the International Basketball Federation (FIBA)—and even being excluded from Nigeria’s opening parade ceremony on the Seine. Despite these setbacks, the team, led by veteran player Adaora Elonu, put up a spirited performance in the group stages.
Although they didn’t progress to the knockout rounds, their games against powerhouses like Canada and Australia were closely contested, showcasing the team’s potential. The coach, Rena Wakama, also received the honour of being named the best basketball coach in the Olympics by FIBA.
The D’Tigress’ Olympic appearance came from their impressive fourth-place finish at the 2022 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup, the best-ever performance by an African team.
The dogged determination of Favour Ofili
If there is one lesson to learn from the Olympics, it is that everyone should have the perseverance and determination of Favour Ofili.
A few days into the games, Nigerian sprinter, Favour Ofili, made an unexpected announcement on social media: she won’t be competing in her main tournament, the women’s 100m, at the 2024 Olympics because the Athletics Federation of Nigeria failed to enter her name, despite her having qualified.
Ofili was slated to compete in the 100m, 200m, and 4x100m relay. According to the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), they did register her. Regardless, she did not compete in the 100m event due to the absence of her entry, and despite late appeals, the outcome could not be changed.
However, Ofili decided not to spend time ‘crying over spilled milk’ but put her best foot forward where it mattered: the 200m heats and the 4x100m relay. With the 200m heats, she qualified for the semi-finals with a season-best time. In the semi-finals, running in lane one, often considered the most challenging, Ofili clocked 22.14 seconds, narrowly missing the final by two-hundredths of a second. In the women’s 4x100m relay heat 2, Favour’s team (which included Justina Eyakpobeyan, Rosemary Chukwuma, and Tima Godbless) finished 6th and missed out on both an automatic and fastest losers spot, also had a Season’s Best of 42.70s.
Reflecting on the Games with PUNCH Newspapers, Ofili spoke emotionally about the Olympics and how it made her realise her high mental fortitude. She says:
“Competing in the Olympics has been the dream of a lifetime. The outcome of this Olympics wasn’t what I hoped for—having to fight with myself every day to be strong mentally even when my body and health were at stake due to the challenges I faced. It’s easy to feel defeated, but every setback is a setup for a comeback. I’m proud of myself; the whole thing made me realise how strong I am, and I am grateful for the support I got from my coach, family, and fans.”
The tenacity of the Super Falcons
The Super Falcons of Nigeria exhibited remarkable tenacity during the 2024 Paris Olympics, despite facing a challenging tournament where they lost all their matches and returned home without any medals. Their journey was further complicated by visa issues that delayed their arrival at the training camp in Spain, which impacted their preparation time.
In the group stage, the Falcons faced tough opponents, suffering narrow defeats against Brazil (0-1) and Spain (0-1), before concluding their campaign with a 1-3 loss to Japan. Throughout these matches, the team demonstrated commendable effort, particularly in their defensive play, even managing to score a goal against a football powerhouse like Japan. Although they left the tournament without a single point, the Super Falcons’ grit and resolve in the face of adversity serve as an inspiring reminder of their commitment to the sport and their country.
Ese Brume and the historic Nigerian Long Jump trio
Brume and fellow Nigerian athletes Prestina Ochonogor and Ruth Usoro made history by becoming the first Nigerian trio to reach the Olympic final in an individual event, specifically in the long jump. In the qualification rounds, Brume initially struggled, recording a jump of 6.44 meters in the first round and 6.40 meters in the second. With her final attempt, she jumped a remarkable 6.76 meters, securing her place in the final.
However, she finished fifth in the final of the women’s long jump at the 2024 Paris Olympics, with a best jump of 6.70 meters. Despite these obstacles, Brume’s experience and determination have positioned her as a strong contender in the long jump event, building on her previous successes, including a bronze medal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and a silver medal at the 2022 World Championships.
The unwavering confidence of Tobi Amusan
Impressive performances marked the journey of the world record holder at the 100-metre event in Paris, although she ultimately did not secure a medal. Competing in the women’s 100m hurdles, Amusan began her campaign with a strong showing, winning her heat in 12.49 seconds, which ranked her second overall heading into the semifinals, just behind defending champion Jasmine Camacho-Quinn.
Despite her confidence and determination, stating, “This is my season,” and emphasizing her preparation for a podium finish, she faced a challenging semifinal round. In this race, she finished third with a time of 12.55 seconds, narrowly missing the final, which concluded her Olympic aspirations for this year. While she did not achieve her goal, Tobi’s performance remains aspirational as a leading athlete in track and field.
Ese Ukpeseraye’s historic appearance as Nigeria’s first Olympic cyclist
Ukpeseraye made history as Nigeria’s first Olympic cyclist at the Paris 2024 Games, competing in multiple events despite facing significant challenges.
Initially registered for the women’s road race, she encountered difficulties when she had to borrow a bike from the German team to participate in the Keirin and Sprint events, which she was called to join on short notice due to the disqualification of another athlete from Egypt.
Nigeria’s Sports Minister, John Owan Enoh, has explained the situation surrounding Ese Ukpeseraye’s participation in the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Initially, Team Nigeria was only set to compete in one road cycling event. However, just two weeks before the Olympics, they received extra slots for the Keirin and individual sprint events because another country was disqualified. This sudden change meant they needed a specialized track bike, which usually takes months to get.
To ensure Ukpeseraye could compete, they managed to source a ‘Track Bike’ through her European club and a German company. Interestingly, despite what the Minister said, these bikes are actually available in sports stores all over Europe, including Paris. This raises a critical question: why didn’t the Nigerian Sports Federation buy a bike in France? Why the need to borrow?
Although she did not finish the road race or advance in the track events, her performances were commendable, given the circumstances. Ukpeseraye expressed pride in representing Nigeria and highlighted the support from the German team as a testament to the Olympic spirit. Despite not qualifying for the finals, she achieved a personal best time of 11.652 seconds during the women’s Individual Sprint qualifying event, which gives a glimmer of hope for Nigeria’s cycling future.
The problems of being a Nigerian athlete and a talent exodus
Nigerian women athletes are caught in a storm of challenges, driving many to seek glory under foreign flags. It’s a tale as old as time in Nigerian sports—a severe lack of financial and emotional support, leaving athletes high and dry.
Take Favour Ofili’s heartbreaking moment at the Paris 2024 Olympics—her tears after the 200-metre finals spoke volumes about the mental toll of feeling unsupported. But it doesn’t stop there. The Nigerian sports system is a bureaucratic nightmare, as the hammer throw athlete Annette Echikunwoke found out the hard way. A simple oversight in drug testing paperwork cost her a shot at representing Nigeria, pushing her to clinch silver for the USA instead.
Let’s also talk about training facilities—or the lack thereof. When cyclists like Ese Ukpeseraye have to borrow bikes just to compete, you know something is seriously wrong. The Abuja Velodrome, supposedly a state-of-the-art facility in African sports, sits largely unused, with religious events often taking precedence over athlete training.
It’s no wonder talents like Salwa Eid Naser and Rashidat Adeleke found greener pastures in Bahrain and Ireland.
Naser, formerly known as Ebelechukwu Agbapuonwu, was born in Onitsha, Anambra State, but moved to Bahrain in 2014. She won a silver medal for the country in the women’s 400m final at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Adeleke, who made her mark at the Paris Olympics as Ireland’s first Irish sprinter to qualify for an Olympic final and Ireland’s fastest-ever woman in the women’s 400m Olympics, also bears Nigerian heritage, as her parents hail from Oyo State.
From grassroots to elite levels, these two athletes show that Nigeria’s athlete development pipeline is more of a leaky faucet. The result? A brain drain of sporting talent that’s hard to ignore, leaves Nigeria’s potential Olympic glory scattered across other nations’ teams.
How to revitalise Nigeria’s sporting image on a global scale
To tackle the ongoing talent drain and create a supportive environment for Nigerian women athletes, we need a comprehensive strategy, which includes:
1. Administrative Reform:
First and foremost, we must implement reforms that promote accountability and transparency in athlete management. This will help build trust and ensure that athletes receive the support they deserve.
2. Investment in Facilities:
Modern training facilities and high-performance centers are essential. By investing in these resources, we can provide athletes with the tools they need to excel.
3. Financial Support:
Comprehensive financial backing through grants and sponsorships is crucial. This support will alleviate financial pressures and allow athletes to focus on their training and performance.
4. Emotional Well-Being:
Prioritizing emotional and psychological support is vital. Access to sports psychologists can help athletes cope with the intense pressures of competition, ensuring they are mentally prepared to succeed.
5. Recognition and Rewards:
We need a robust system for recognizing athletes’ achievements. This includes establishing long-term support structures, financial rewards, and lifetime benefits that honor their contributions to the sport.
6. Focus on Strengths:
Nigeria should concentrate on sports where it has historically excelled, such as athletics, while also exploring emerging events like cycling, skating, climbing, and rowing. This dual approach can help diversify our athletic talent and increase our competitive edge.
The Paris 2024 Olympics have shown that with limited resources, Nigerian sportswomen can compete with the best in the world. Imagine what they could achieve with proper support, funding and recognition. It’s time for Nigerian sports to give its women the backing they deserve, enabling them not just to participate, but to dominate on the world stage. The talent is there; now it’s time for the system to catch up.
