Arise Exclusives

Charles Ojugbana: Nigeria’s 2024 Olympic Performance A ‘Humongous Disaster’

Veteran Nigerian sports journalist, Charles Ojugbana, has expressed deep disappointment over Nigeria’s poor performance at the 2024 Paris Olympics, describing it as a “humongous disaster.”

In an interview with ARISE NEWS on Monday, Ojugbana criticised the lack of planning and preparation that led to Nigeria returning home without a single medal, despite the country’s vast sporting potential.

The journalist emphasised that success in sports is not accidental but the result of careful planning and intentional efforts, noting that Nigeria did not plan properly for the games.

Ojugbana said, “When you fail to plan, it means you have planned to fail. There’s just one word to describe Nigeria’s performance at the last Olympics and that word is disaster. It’s a humongous disaster that a country of so much sporting potential and prowess can go to a game in 2024 and come back empty handed.

“Sports is very intentional. It doesn’t happen by coincidence. It is what you plan, what you dream, that you end up achieving. And for the Olympiad which comes in a four year cycle, every country knows ahead of time when and where it would hold, therefore you have the ample opportunity to plan. Why is it impossible for a country as big and as rich and as endowed as our own country to be able to plan?”

Ojugbana also noted that another reason for the country’s poor performance was because Nigerian athletes were competing in sports where the country has little historical success, arguing that Nigeria should focus on its proven strengths in combat sports, athletics, weightlifting, and wrestling—disciplines where the country has a strong track record.

He said, “We sent 82 athletes and I was shocked to my bone marrow when I saw Nigerian competitors in rowing, in swimming, in cycling. For crying out loud, what is that in the name of any country? Nigeria has what we call her areas of speciality that have been proven over time. We are good at combat sports. We are good at athletics. That is why in boxing for instance, our first Olympic gold medal came from Nojim Mayegun as far back as 1964. The next one came from Isaac Ikhouria in Munich, ‘72. After that, we had Peter Konyegwachie. And we have had a long train of boxers, all of them with world repute. Why is it that there was no Nigerian boxer in the quarter finals, finals and winning a medal in the Paris Olympic games.”

He highlighted the issue of leadership and management within Nigerian sports and compared the leadership of global sports organisations to Nigeria’s, noting that countries with successful sports programs often have leaders with deep personal experience and expertise in sports. In contrast, he argued that Nigeria’s sports administration is plagued by issues of patronage rather than meritocracy.

“You cannot give what you do not have,” Ojugbana said, stressing the importance of having knowledgeable and experienced individuals in leadership positions.

Ojugbana further stated that while the Minister of Sports had apologised for the poor performance, there needs to be real accountability. He called for those responsible for the administrative failures to be held accountable, including naming, shaming, and banning those who failed in their duties.

“Sport is intentional,” he said. “Until we begin to see it as that, then there’s no point even participating.”

Melissa Enoch

Follow us on:

Melissa Enoch

View Comments

  • VEHICLES AUCTIONING IS CURRENTLY GOING NOW!!! .
    ROOFING SHEETS DIFFERENT TYPES AVAILABLE.
    IMPORTEDED VEHICLES & DIFFERENT TYPES OF GENERATORS, AUCTION PHONE'S. FOR SALE AT CHEAP AND AFFORDABLE AUCTION PRICE INTERESTED BUYER SHOULD KINDLY CONTACT US ON O8O__6739__9O9O.
    BAGS OF RICE AND VEGETABLE OIL FOR SALE IN A CHEAP AND AFFORDABLE PRICE, BUYER SHOULD CONTACT US ON O8O__6739__9O9O.
    ARE ALSO AVAILABLE FOR SALES.
    SOME OF THE AVAILABLE VEHICLES AND THEIR AUCTION PRICES ARE:
    Toyota 4Runner #950,000
    Toyota Avalon #900,000
    Toyota Avensis #950,000
    Toyota Camry tiny light #450,000
    Toyota Camry muscle #850,000.
    Toyota Camry Big daddy #650,000
    Toyota Corolla le #500,000/#850,000. Corolla S, XLE
    Toyota FJ Cruiser #1.1M
    Toyota Hiace #1.5m
    Toyota Highlander #950,000
    Toyota Hilux #1.2m
    Toyota Matrix #600,000
    Toyota Prado #2m
    Toyota Rav4 #650,000
    Toyota Sequoia #950,000
    Toyota picnic #670,000
    Toyota Sienna #600,000
    Toyota Tacoma #2.7m.
    Toyota Tundra #2.5M.
    Toyota Venza #1.2M
    Toyota Yaris #900,000
    Volkswagen Golf 2,3,4 #250,000 /#450,000
    Volkswagen Passat #600,000.
    Volkswagen Touareg #600,000
    Acura MDX #1.3
    Acura TL #1M
    Acura ZDX #2M
    Audi A4 #500,000
    Audi A6 #650,000
    BMW 3-Series #650,000
    BMW 5-Series #980,000
    Ford Escape #600,000
    Ford Explorer #900,000
    Honda Baby Boy #500,000
    Honda Accord 03 EOD #860,000
    Honda Civic #500,000
    Honda Crosstour #1.1M
    Honda CR-V #750,000
    Hyundai Accent #950,000.
    Infiniti FX35 #1M
    Infiniti FX45 #1.2M
    Land Rover Discovery #3M
    Lexus ex 300 #800,000
    Lexus Rx330,#900,000
    Lexus Rx350,#1.4m
    Lexus Rx400, #2m
    RANG ROVER SPORT =#2.5M.
    Land Rover LR3 #950,000.
    MERCEDES BENZ DIFFERENT MODEL.
    NOTICE: THE PRICE OF THOSE VEHICLES DEPEND ON THEIR YEAR MODEL.

Recent Posts

Kemi Badenoch Wins Conservative Leadership, Vows Party Renewal, A Return to Traditional Values

Kemi Badenoch has pledged to "renew" the Conservative Party and reclaim voters as she was…

4 hours ago

Peter Obi Criticises Court Ruling Halting Rivers State Funds, Calls for Reversal

Peter Obi has criticised the court ruling withholding funds to Rivers State, calling it disturbing…

10 hours ago

AGF Fagbemi Takes Over Prosecution of #EndBadGovernance Protesters Amidst Allegations of Treason

AGF Fagbemi has taken over the prosecution of 114 #EndBadGovernance protesters, addressing alleged treason and…

10 hours ago

NNPC, ONHYM Advance African Atlantic Gas Pipeline Project Amid Regional Collaboration

NNPC and Morocco's ONHYM has advanced the $26 billion African Atlantic Gas Pipeline, emphasising regional…

10 hours ago

TCN Restores Power Supply Through Gombe-Damaturu-Maiduguri Line

TCN has restored power on the Gombe-Damaturu-Maiduguri line, fully operational again after vandalism halted service.

10 hours ago

Nineteen Injured In Central Israel Following Projectile Launch From Lebanon

Nineteen people were injured in central Israel after three projectiles were launched from Lebanon early…

10 hours ago