Senator John Enoh, Nigeria’s Minister of Sports Development, has described Team Nigeria’s performance at the 2024 Paris Olympics as a ‘disaster’.
The team’s hopes for a medal were dashed on Friday when the 4x400m relay team, despite securing second place, was disqualified for impeding a South African athlete during a baton exchange. Additionally, sprint star Tobi Amusan did not advance to the finals of the women’s 100m hurdles, finishing third with a time of 12.55s.
In a statement on X, the minister expressed his commitment to preventing such setbacks in the future. He stated, “Yesterday, I addressed the press at the Nigerian Embassy in Paris to discuss the nation’s performance. As we move forward, it’s crucial that we prevent a repeat of the Paris disaster. This may involve reviewing the selection process for leadership roles within our sporting federations.
“With upcoming elections for these federations, it is an opportune moment to ensure that only the most qualified individuals lead our sports organizations.
“The lack of medals at the 2024 Paris Olympics is not just about our performance at the games but reflects deeper issues that need urgent attention. Despite our efforts to adequately prepare and financially support our athletes, the results were disappointing,” he added.
Enoh promised a thorough review of candidates for the forthcoming sports federation elections to ensure high standards and effective leadership.
“I recognize that the sports federation elections in Nigeria are highly competitive. We must scrutinize the motivations of those seeking leadership roles to ensure we get the best individuals for the job.
“This reform initiative is aimed at improving the leadership and performance of Nigeria’s sports federations to achieve better results on the global stage,” he concluded.