Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Guardian Nigeria
Published on 2024-04-04 04:08:05
Nigeria, once a powerhouse in track and field events on the continent, has lost its dominance to countries like Egypt, Algeria, and some East African nations. The recent 13th African Games held in Ghana highlighted Egypt’s and other countries’ stronghold in sports where Nigeria used to excel. This decline was evident in events like table tennis and weightlifting, where Nigeria has been outperformed by Egypt.
In table tennis, Egypt’s Omar Assar has consistently defeated Nigeria’s Aruna Quadri in the men’s singles finals at the African Games, showcasing Egypt’s dominance in the sport. Similarly, in weightlifting, Egypt has overtaken Nigeria in terms of gold medals won, highlighting the country’s prowess in the sport. Despite Nigeria’s 16 gold medals in weightlifting contributing to their second-place finish in Ghana, Egypt outshone Nigeria with 24 gold medals.
Other African countries like East Africa, South Africa, and The Gambia have also made inroads into events like the 100m, 200m, and relay races where Nigeria used to excel. While Nigeria maintained its dominance in certain events like women’s 100m hurdles and long jump, other countries like The Gambia have started to assert their presence in sprint events.
The decline of Nigeria in various sporting disciplines has been attributed to factors like lack of preparation, neglect of sports development by the government, and the absence of grassroots sports competitions. Former athletes and sports analysts have pointed out the need for continuous investments in sports development, training facilities, and talent identification programs to improve Nigeria’s performance in sports.
It is suggested that Nigeria needs to go back to the grassroots, invest in High Performance Centres, and develop world-class athletes in more disciplines to catch up with countries like Egypt. The focus should shift from traditional sports like football to less mainstream sports like swimming, gymnastics, and fencing, which have the potential to yield more medals at international competitions.
Overall, Nigeria’s decline in sports can be reversed with proper planning, investment, and a shift in focus towards developing a diverse range of sporting disciplines. By taking these steps, Nigeria can regain its position as a leading force in African sports and compete with other dominant nations on the continent.
