The Minister of Sports Development, John Enoh, has issued an apology for the country’s lackluster performance at the 2024 Paris Olympics, where Nigeria failed to win any medals.
pathwaynews reports that Nigeria’s participation in the 2024 Olympics concluded without a single medal, with Hannah Reuben’s loss in women’s freestyle wrestling 76kg to Mongolia’s Davaanasan Amar Enkh on Saturday being the final blow to the nation’s medal hopes.
In his statement on Saturday, Enoh acknowledged the disappointment:
“The Olympic Games in Paris have concluded, and our performance clearly did not meet the expectations or hopes of Nigerians. I apologize to our compatriots and recognize the need for reflection and improvement as we look forward to the Paralympic Games in Paris later this year.”
Enoh, who took office as Minister of Sports Development in August 2023, noted the challenges he faced:
“When I began my role, I inherited the task of managing four major international competitions—AFCON, the African Games, the Olympic and Paralympic Games—within a short span of time. The Olympic Games, being the pinnacle of global sports, typically requires a preparation period of at least four years.”
He explained that preparations for the Olympics had not begun before his appointment. Despite this, Enoh and his team endeavored to match or exceed Nigeria’s notable 1996 Atlanta Olympics performance. Efforts included detailed inspections of sports facilities and close coordination with National Sports Federations.
“The President, HE Bola Ahmed Tinubu, ensured that funding was not a constraint, providing early payments for allowances and training grants. Despite these efforts, our team’s performance was underwhelming and requires a thorough explanation.”
Enoh reflected on past successes and failures, emphasizing the need for lessons learned:
“Our last medal-less Olympics was in 2012. Since then, we’ve achieved a bronze in 2016 and silver and bronze in 2020. As a nation, we deserve better. Let’s turn this disappointing outcome into a catalyst for positive change in Nigerian sports.”
