John Enoh, Nigeria’s Minister of Sports Development, has issued a public apology following the country’s disappointing performance at the 2024 Paris Olympics. In a statement shared via his X handle on Sunday, Enoh acknowledged that Team Nigeria’s performance “fell short of expectations,” marking the first time since 2012 that the nation failed to secure a single Olympic medal.
Nigeria sent over 80 athletes to compete in Paris, but the contingent faced numerous challenges, including administrative lapses and poor technical decisions, which contributed to their underwhelming results.
Enoh, who assumed office in August 2023, noted that upon taking the role, he was immediately tasked with overseeing preparations for four major international competitions: the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), the African Games, the Olympic Games, and the Paralympic Games. However, he revealed that no groundwork had been laid for the Olympics when he began his tenure, despite the event being less than a year away.
“When I assumed office as the Minister of Sports Development in August 2023, I was confronted with the task of executing four international competitions… I held extensive discussions with the management staff of the Ministry and got to know that preparations for the Olympics, which was less than a year away, had not started,” Enoh said in his statement.
He emphasised that his initial goal was to maintain Nigeria’s international sports reputation, aiming to replicate or surpass the country’s performance at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. To this end, Enoh initiated a progressive approach, requesting all National Sports Federations to submit their plans and programs. He also embarked on a nationwide inspection of sports facilities and established a Ministerial Podium Performance Advisory Committee to guide preparations.
Despite these efforts, Enoh admitted that Nigeria’s preparations for Paris were limited to federations with “bright chances of qualifying for the Olympics.” He criticised these federations for prioritising qualification over thorough preparation, noting that they “resisted and defended” their selections even after complaints were raised.
“After the African Games, subsequent meetings were limited to the Federations that had bright chances of qualifying for the Olympics. Medals projections were made by all the Federations, although their athletes were still trying to qualify; which lasted until about June 2024. The concerned Federations obviously prioritised qualification over preparations for the Games. This seems to have always been the case. This has to change,” Enoh stated.
Reflecting on the overall outcome, Enoh did not mince words, previously describing Team Nigeria’s performance at the 2024 Olympics as a “disaster.” He assured the public that the sports ministry would thoroughly assess the failures of the Paris Olympics and work toward a better showing at the upcoming Paralympics.
Melissa Enoch
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