Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Guardian Nigeria
Published on 2024-04-02 03:16:37
The Nigeria Wrestling Federation President, Daniel Igali, recently shared his perspective on Nigeria’s chances of winning a gold medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics. Despite high hopes in the country, Igali expressed doubt about Nigeria’s preparedness to break the jinx of not winning a gold medal since the Sydney 2000 Games. He highlighted that Nigeria’s last Olympics gold medal was achieved through the men’s 4x400m relay team, which was later converted from silver to gold due to the disqualification of the U.S. team for doping.
The Sydney 2000 Games marked the pinnacle of Nigeria’s Olympics success, with the country winning two gold medals. However, since then, Nigeria has struggled to replicate that achievement. In recent years, Nigeria has faced challenges in Olympic performance, with the Tokyo 2020 Games yielding only one silver and one bronze medal. Igali emphasized the importance of consistent preparation, meticulous planning, and participation in major international competitions to excel at the Olympics.
According to Igali, Nigeria’s athletes have been hindered by inadequate funding from the Federal Government. He pointed out that Nigeria’s sports federations receive minimal budget allocations compared to other African countries like Egypt, Tunisia, South Africa, and Algeria. Igali revealed that he had to borrow money to organize a wrestling camp before the Japan 2020 Olympics, where Nigeria secured a bronze medal. Despite this achievement, the borrowed funds have not been repaid, reflecting the challenges faced by Nigerian sports federations.
Igali criticized the government’s lack of proactive planning for the Olympics, noting that serious countries begin preparations immediately after one Olympics ends. In contrast, Nigeria tends to allocate funds a few months before the competition, leading to insufficient preparation time. He warned against expecting exceptional performances from Nigeria at the Paris 2024 Olympics, given the current state of sports funding in the country.
As Igali’s tenure as president of the wrestling federation draws to a close next year, he expressed hope that some Nigerian athletes could excel at the Paris 2024 Games with proper support. He highlighted Tobi Amusan, the 100m hurdles world champion, as a potential medalist if adequately prepared for the Olympics. Igali reassured Nigerians that he would continue advocating for the wrestlers’ optimal training to enhance their performance at the upcoming Games, noting that six fighters have already qualified.
In conclusion, Daniel Igali’s insights shed light on the challenges facing Nigeria’s Olympic aspirations and the need for enhanced funding and long-term planning to improve the country’s chances of winning a gold medal at the Paris 2024 Games. Despite the obstacles ahead, Igali’s commitment to supporting Nigerian athletes underscores the importance of investing in sports development for future Olympic success.
