As the Tokyo 2020 Olympics gradually winds down in Japan, Team Nigeria (already back in the country) secured a place on the medals’ table, having won one silver and one bronze. This feat compels some introspection amid calls for the resignation of Sports Minister, Mr Sunday Dare, for what some interests referred to as a poor outing.
To these interests, the Tokyo outing by Team Nigeria might not be a good one especially as the team did not upset Atlanta’ 96 Olympic record as expected. However, to some realists, considering where we were coming from, the achievement of two medals by Team Nigeria is considered as super. Team Nigeria could have drawn barren on the medal table and the greater lamentations would have done us no good. This is the reason Sunday Dare and the Sports Ministry should be applauded for the spectacular feat of two medals and some athletes’ impressive performances in their individual games or sports.
The problem of Nigerian sports didn’t start with nor was it created by Sunday Dare. He only inherited it from his predecessor who came with the intention to put an end to federations crises. But rather than solve the crises he created more. Crises in NFF, Basketball and AFN are case studies.
It is significant to note that Olympic preparations didn’t start with Sunday Dare, but unfortunately, he inherited the procedures and processes. He did his best possible to breathe life into the preparations and that was the reason Team Nigeria could boast of being a competitor at the games and not just a participant.
It is instructive to also note that there was no news of Team Nigeria being shortchanged or were there salacious stories about missing dollars; rather, Sunday Dare increased the prize money for each medal won to encourage podium finish.
Returning home with a silver and a bronze from a global and highly-competitive event like the Olympics from the least expected sports (Wrestling and Long Jump) calls for celebrations and not condemnation.
Let’s go a bit further to do a forensic analysis of Team Nigeria in Tokyo. One will get to appreciate the level Sunday Dare as Minister of Sports had upped the ante. One will agree that the Tokyo Olympics has had its fair share of drama on and off the sports arena. Team Nigeria is no exception but in the middle of all those distractions, Nigeria made very important progress at the games.
Whereas, in such a big world event, there are always pockets of misgivings that often trail countries’ participation. The Ministry of Youths and Sports Development, on whose shoulders the organisation and participation rested, did its best to successfully discharge the assignment.
The Ministry has quickly clarified some issues, which looked trivial, in the spirit of accountability. Take, for instance, the issue of kitting the participants at the games, the Ministry said issues that arose concerning the wears, which many blamed the ministry, were as fallacious as they were inaccurate.
According to a statement signed by Dr Simon Ebohjaiye, Acting Director, FEAD, stories being peddled about in the media space about the kits for Team Nigeria to the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games were based on hearsays and not facts.
He said: “Firstly, when it comes to kits or sports equipment for Team Nigeria, there are two (2) categories: these are the General Wears and the Competition Wears.
“The General Wears category is the responsibility of the Ministry. The kitting of Team Nigeria for various National, Continental and International sporting events has always been the responsibility of the Ministry and this was no different for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. For the records, Team Nigeria was properly kitted for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics with the Ministry procuring a 9-item bag of kits for each of our athletes and officials.
“The second category of kits is the Competition Wears. This category is the specific competition kits which are peculiar to each sport and provided by individual Sports Federation.
“The Ministry provides financial support to each Sports Federation as required. It is therefore, the responsibility of each National Sports Federation to provide these Competition Wears to their team athletes and officials.
“For the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, each of the Sports Federations procured the Competition Wears for their respective teams, in relation to their specific needs.
“Furthermore, in providing the General Wears for Team Nigeria, the Ministry leveraged on the Local Content Policy of the Federal Government in looking inwards to engaging an indigenous company, AFA Sports, to produce the general kits.”
Anyway, aside the little controversy, there are agreeably flashes of impressive performances by Team Nigeria and here are eight amazing facts about Nigeria’s performances at the Tokyo Olympics that will surely make one leap for joy and doff ones hat to the sports ministry.
First, Nigeria got a bronze medal in long jump, 25 years after Chioma Ajunwa won gold in Atlanta 1996. Ese Brume did it for Nigeria.
Second, Nigeria won a silver medal for wrestling- first Olympic medal ever in the history of the sport. Blessing Oborududu made the nation proud by winning a silver in wrestling.
Third, 21-year-old Enoch Adegoke became the third Nigeria to get to the Finals of the 100 metres Men event.
Fourth, with the two medals, Nigeria is placed 68 out of the 205 countries at the Tokyo Olympics and 4th in Africa.
Fifth, Nigerian Olympians made a record five finals at the Tokyo Olympics.
Sixth, Nigerian Olympians set several new personal best (PBs) records in athletics.
Seventh, Nigeria reached the final of shot put for the first time in her history.
Eighth, Nigeria performed better at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics when compared with London 2012 Olympics with zero medal and the Rio 2016 Olympics with one bronze medal.
It is interesting to know too that Nigeria produced five finalists in Tokyo Olympics, a record achievement.
Check out the list: Enoch Adegoke – 100 meters men; Ese Brume- Women Long jump; Tobi Amusan- 100meters women hurdles; Blessing Oborodudu-67kg free style women wrestling, and Chukwuebuka Enekwechi- shot put.
In athletics Enoch Adegoke becomes Nigeria’s first 100m Olympic finalist since 1996, clocking 10.00s in heat 2 of men’s 100m semis! Twenty five years after Davidson Ezinwa achieved the feat at Atlanta ’96. To get to that point, Adegoke had beaten powerful sprinters like Asian record holder, Femi Ogunode, British star, Zharnel Hughes and 2021 World leader, Travon Brommel, to win his100m heat in a huge personal best of 9.98s, which makes him 10th joint fastest Nigerian in history.
Also in wrestling, Blessing Oborududu broke the jinx in the wrestling family with an Olympic Silver medal to show for it.
In the words of Ese Brune after winning bronze medal in the long jump: “I’m super excited that I made it to the top three at the Olympics. Honestly, I can’t contend with my joy. This medal means a lot to me. It doesn’t matter the color.” This reflects the mood of every Nigerian.
In canoeing, Ayomide Bello, represented the nation and became the first African female to compete in Canoe Sprint at the Olympics. She finished 3rd in the quarter-finals of the C-1 200m with 47.326s.
Abiola Ogunbanwo broke a new national record in swimming- a first since 2000 Sydney Olympics.
With such scintillating performances, one must obligatory share in the minister, Sunday Dare’s optimistism that the future holds much hope.
Dare said, “Most of our athletes are young and debutants – experiencing Olympics for the first time. They remain committed patriots who gave their all and I have nothing but pride for their tenacity and commitment to deliver smiles to the faces of Nigerians. We have started building a new generation of young Nigerian athletes. There is much hope.” One can’t believe less with him.
Stay ahead with the latest updates! Join The ConclaveNG on WhatsApp and Telegram for real-time news alerts, breaking stories, and exclusive content delivered straight to your phone. Don’t miss a headline — subscribe now!
