The Federal Government of Nigeria has issued a formal apology to the nation following the dismal performance of its athletes at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, where the country failed to secure any medals.
The outcome has sparked widespread disappointment among Nigerians who had hoped for a stronger showing on the global stage.
In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter), Senator John Owan Enoh, Nigeria’s Minister of Sports Development, expressed deep regret over the country’s Olympic performance, acknowledging that it fell significantly short of expectations.
“The Olympic Games, Paris 2024, have concluded, and I must admit that our performance was far below what we had hoped for. It did not meet our objectives, nor did it reflect the aspirations of Nigerians,” Enoh stated. “For this, I sincerely apologize to all Nigerians. We must now reflect on what went wrong and look ahead to the Paralympic Games in Paris.”
Enoh, who assumed his ministerial role in August 2023, pointed out that preparations for the Olympics were not in place when he took office. He also highlighted the challenges posed by a tight schedule, which included the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) and the African Games. Despite these challenges, Enoh emphasized that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had ensured that funding was not a constraint for the Olympic campaign.
In light of the disappointing results, Enoh promised a comprehensive review of the factors that contributed to the poor performance. “As a responsible body, we have already begun a review process. We will conduct a thorough evaluation of each athlete’s competition readiness, including their injury and medical histories, within the bounds of confidentiality. We will also scrutinize the roles of coaches and administrative staff,” he explained.
Enoh stressed that the 2024 Olympics should serve as a learning experience, with significant improvements needed in Nigeria’s sports administration. He recalled that this is the first time since 2012 that Nigeria has returned from the Olympics without a single medal. In contrast, the country secured a bronze medal in 2016 and both a silver and a bronze in the 2020 Olympics.
“Nigeria deserves better,” Enoh concluded. “We must transform the disappointment of the 2024 Olympics into a catalyst for positive change in our sports sector.”
https://x.com/OwanEnoh/status/1822537102132650026?t=WbnJ-h79vFdGkzoM7qKnYg&s=19
As the nation looks to the future, the Minister’s pledge to overhaul and enhance Nigeria’s sporting infrastructure and strategy will be closely watched by a public eager for better results in upcoming international competitions.
