Nigeria’s Minister of Sports Development, Senator John Enoh has labeled Team Nigeria’s performance at the 2024 Paris Olympics as “disappointing,” acknowledging the country’s failure to secure any medals.
In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter), Enoh attributed this outcome to deeper issues within the nation’s sports framework that require urgent attention. Enoh expressed his commitment to ensuring that such a performance is not repeated, particularly by addressing how leadership positions in sports federations are filled. He emphasized the importance of electing the most qualified candidates in the upcoming sports federation elections to lead the various sporting bodies.
“Yesterday, I addressed the press at the Nigerian Embassy in Paris regarding our participation in the 2024 Olympics. Moving forward, we must prevent a repeat of the Paris outcome. This may involve reassessing how leaders are chosen for our sports federations,” Enoh stated.
He also clarified that the Ministry of Sports Development had made adequate preparations, both financially and otherwise, to support the athletes. Despite these efforts, the performance did not meet expectations.
Looking ahead, Enoh vowed to implement strict scrutiny of candidates in the upcoming sports federation elections to ensure that only the most capable individuals are selected. He highlighted the importance of reforming the leadership of Nigeria’s sports federations to enhance their effectiveness and improve the country’s performance on the global stage.
