The Nigeria Boxing Federation (NBF) has unveiled a comprehensive strategy to begin early preparations for the 2028 Olympics, following a disappointing performance at the Paris 2024 Games.
NBF Interim President, Azania Omo-Agege, announced that the federation would revive the Nigerian Boxing League as part of its long-term vision to rejuvenate the sport.
“There is a perception that most of our boxers are from the streets. We are working to change that narrative, and to do so, we need constant competition,” Nigeria’s Paris 2024 boxing campaign was fraught with setbacks, including Adam Olaore’s elimination in the round of 16 of the men’s 92kg heavyweight category, Cynthia Ogunsemilore’s doping-related disqualification, and Dolapo Omole’s withdrawal due to injury.
Highlighting the importance of sustained development, Omo-Agege added, “I want to bring back the Nigerian Boxing League to keep our boxers in shape, help them avoid trouble, and ensure they remain focused on training consistently.”
The Paris 2024 preparations were hampered by internal leadership conflicts, notably between Omo-Agege and former NBF president Kenneth Minimah. This turmoil affected the federation’s operations and disrupted the coaching structure, including the controversial replacement of experienced coach Tony Konyegwachie with Adura Olalehin, whose qualifications were questioned by NBF Technical Director Babatunde Laguda.
Boxers also lamented inadequate preparation. Heavyweight boxer Ifeanyi Onyekwere criticized the limited training, stating, “The preparation was very bad. It was just a one-week camp, with a lot of stress.”
Omo-Agege believes the introduction of prize money from the International Boxing Association (IBA) will motivate athletes. “Now that there is prize money from the IBA, boxers will have more incentive to compete, knowing they can earn a living,” he said.
The federation plans to focus on frequent competitions to better position Nigerian boxers for international events, culminating in robust preparations for the Olympics.
“We need to attend more competitions to prepare ourselves for international games and ultimately the Olympics,” Omo-Agege emphasized.
Nigeria’s last Olympic boxing medal was Duncan Dokiwari’s bronze in the super heavyweight division at the 1996 Atlanta Games. The NBF is determined to end this drought and restore the country’s glory in the sport.
