Team Nigeria’s participation at the Paris 2024 Olympics has been a national embarrassment. A country with a rich sporting heritage returned home without a single medal, a stark echo of the London 2012 debacle.

The absence of podium finishes across athletics, basketball, boxing, table tennis, wrestling, and football is a damning indictment of the nation’s sporting administration. Despite a substantial budget, the team’s performance was marred by administrative errors, poor preparation, and a lack of competitive spirit.

BREAKING NEWS:
Team Nigeria🇳🇬 has finished its outing at #Paris2024 #Olympics without winning a single medal.

Thoughts on this? pic.twitter.com/v5ybaqymQ5

— Nigeria Stories (@NigeriaStories) August 10, 2024

The failure to win a medal in Helsinki 1952, Melbourne 1956, Rome 1960, Mexico City 1968, Moscow 1980, Seoul 1988, and now London 2012 and Paris 2024 underscores a systemic problem. The nation’s reliance on individual brilliance rather than a structured, holistic approach to sports development has proven to be a fatal flaw.

While countries like Kenya, Botswana, and Algeria excelled, Nigeria’s athletes struggled. The absence of a robust domestic sports structure, coupled with inadequate investment, has hindered the nation’s ability to produce world-class talent consistently.

The blame for this catastrophic failure rests squarely with the sports ministry. The lack of foresight and planning is evident. Immediate steps must be taken to overhaul the nation’s sporting landscape, starting with a comprehensive review of the sports ministry’s operations.

So far, At the 2024 Olympics, China came first with 84 medals, which include 34 gold. The whole of afrikan continent managed to get six gold or thereabout. Thanks to countries like Kenya, south afrika, Botswana, Ethiopia and co for registering our presence in paris.

Nigeria got… pic.twitter.com/2SyuFPUt8r

— Dr. adé olú (@adeoluorisa) August 10, 2024

Investing in grassroots development, providing adequate funding and support for athletes, and creating a conducive environment for sports to thrive are essential for Nigeria to reclaim its sporting glory. The Paris 2024 Olympics should serve as a wake-up call for a nation that once dreamt of dominating the global sporting stage.

It’s time for Nigeria to rise from the ashes and embark on a journey of sporting redemption.