Interestingly, I have never covered the African Games in my over two decades as a sports journalist having worked in the radio, television and newspaper houses.
I have covered two Commonwealth Games back to back in Gold Coast Australia in 2018 and in Birmingham in 2022. I was at the Sun Newspaper when Nigeria hosted the African Games known as the All African Games then in 2003 but I didn’t get the opportunity to cover the event.
I heard from colleagues who have covered previous editions that it was indeed mentally and physically but the truth is that nothing good comes easy.
I have never been afraid of challenges and so, I departed for Accra, Ghana in the early hours of March 7.
The taking off from the Murtala Mohamed International airport was smooth as well as the landing at the Kotoka international airport in Accra.
By the way, the new terminal for the airport in Lagos was sparkling clean. It made me proud to be a Nigerian. The electronic stairs were comparable to the ones I have used in some developed countries in the world.
For the very first time, immigration formalities were done seamlessly without much hassle.
When I landed in Accra, Ghana before seven in the morning, there was nothing really striking that Ghana was hosting the Africa’s flagship multi sports event.
Outside the arrival hall, I saw something that looked like an effigy but in reality was a weather beaten balloon improvised into the games mascot.
I made enquiries and someone directed me to a corner outside the arrival hall where some dispirited young men and women who were serving as volunteers sat.
One of them attended to me when I demanded to know where exactly I can get my accreditation tag at the airport while the rest of them moped away with reckless abandon.
No single soul was seen at the accreditation office, not even birds singing by the time I arrived there few minutes past eight in the morning.
Minutes later, a fellow arrived and from what he revealed, it was obvious the Ghanaians have a different approach to life. There are usually not in a hurry.
After waiting for over three hours, one fellow peeped through the window of the Porta-cabin converted into an office to announce that we should line up in a single file to receive our accreditation tags
As a sharp guy, I quickly claimed my number one spot while other journalists from different parts of the world who arrived after me queued behind.
I almost created a scene when the skinny lad who was issuing the tags told me that my request for accreditation has not been approved. I changed into combat mode and reminded the fellow that having covered more prestigious multi sports events in the world, on what basis was my accreditation not approved.
The young man later peeped into his laptop like a marabout gazing into his crystal ball and discovered that my tag was there waiting to be collected.
That was how my journey towards covering the 13th African Games stated. So, for over two weeks I covered the Games which was held in several centres across the capital city of Accra.
It was only the women’s football event that the Cape Coast Stadium hosted and no sport was held in Kumasi as has being wrongly suggested.
The Ghanaian government may not have invested in magnificent facilities but the strategic decision to build a stadium within the sprawling University of Ghana in Legon is a legacy that would begin to yield dividends sooner than later.
The combination of education and sports has been known to produce balanced human beings. This system also ensures that sports men and women can continue being relevant in the society after they quit sports.
The likes of Chief Segun Odegbami and former Rivers State Commissioner for Justice, Adokie Amiesimaka are living examples in Nigeria.
I have never had issues with food anywhere I find myself in the world and so, Ghana was not an exception to me.
Although, I deliberately refused to take the risk of eating some of their soups that looked like an ‘ocean in a bowl’.
However, prostitution is endemic and lucrative in Ghana because of the exchange rate that gives the Cedi the edge over the naira.
One Ghana Cedi will give you one hundred naira at the prevalent exchange rate.
This almost caused a breach of peace between a Nigerian journalist and a sex worker in Accra, Ghana.
The lady billed the journalist GHC200 which is about N20,000 for a night of ‘bliss’ but the fellow wanted to know how much that was in naira before ‘investing’ his money.
The sex worker knowing what the journalist was trying to do promptly replied that she only run her ‘business’ in Cedis and not naira.
By the way, as our girls were breaking records at the 13th African Games, Nigerian ladies were also dominating the prostitution industry in Ghana.
At the conclusion of the 13th African Games on March 23, Team Nigeria finished second in the final medal table with 121 medals (47 gold, 34 silver, and 40 bronze).
Weightlifting won the highest number of medals for Nigeria, with lifters snatching 16 gold, 10 silver and 6 bronze medals.
Lifters like Adijat Olarinoye, Rafiatu Lawal, and Edidiong Umoafia achieved triple gold feat in their respective weight categories.
Athletics followed closely behind with 11 gold medals and also produced a series of exceptional performances.
Tobi Amusan successfully defended her 100m hurdles title, becoming the first hurdler to win three consecutive gold medals at the Games.
Ese Brume confirmed her status as Africa’s long jump queen by becoming the second woman to retain a long jump title after Modupe Oshikoya.
Chidi Okezie delivered another historic moment, winning Nigeria’s first 400m gold medal in 37 years.
Chukwuebuka Enekwechi made history as the first Nigerian to retain a Shot Put gold medal at the Games.
Chinecherem Nnamdi set a new national record of 82.80m in javelin, adding his name to the list of Nigerian history makers.
Nigeria dominated the relay races, winning all but one. The team secured the Mixed Relay with an African Record, followed by victories in both men’s and women’s 4x100m events.
The women’s 4x400m relay team continued their legacy by winning their 10th consecutive gold in the Games’ history.
However the men’s team finished third, extending their wait for the first gold in over two decades in the event by another four years.
Nigeria’s strength in combat sports was emphatic. Wrestling and boxing combined for 14 gold medals. All the Team Nigeria’s female wrestlers won gold.
Boxing began its revival after years of being on the decline with 11 boxers securing eight gold medals.
There were also gains in arm wrestling (4 gold medals), Judo, and Badminton.
Anuoluwapo Opeyori delivered the first gold medal for Nigeria in Ghana by defeating his compatriot Godwin Olofua in the men’s singles badminton event.
The men’s football team (Flying Eagles) under coach Ladan Bosso were so woeful and deservedly crashed out at the group stage after losing two games and winning just one and the Falconets failed to retain the gold medal they won in Rabat in 2019 after losing in the final to the Black Princesses of Ghana who beat them 2-1.
Going forward, Team Nigeria could have won more medals with better preparations and long-time investment in sports.
For instance, some Team Nigeria’s hockey players complained that were playing on the turf that was used in Ghana for the first time.
Some sports federation officials also complained that they neither camped for enough time nor embarked on a training tours like some of the countries they competed against did.
Even Ladan Bosso who paraded a mediocre side also lamented that he had only 13 days to prepare the Flying Eagles for the African Games.
As Nigeria prepares for the summer Olympics in Paris, it’s important to remind the sports ministry not to be carried away by the number of medals Team Nigeria won at 13th African Games.
They need to know that winning a medal at Olympics goes beyond the so called ‘Nigerian’ spirit. The only spirits that would help athletes win medals are early release of funds for the athletes to begin preparations and training with best in the world.
If they are bereft of ideas, they can understudy Egypt that emerged as the undisputed leader atop the medal standings, clinching a remarkable total of 191 medals.
Egypt’s eternal dominance isn’t merely a stroke of luck; it is a testament to their strategic investment in sports. Nigeria boasts a wealth of exceptional talents, while Egypt’s sustained success underscores a deliberate commitment to nurturing and cultivating its athletes, ensuring a pipeline of excellence that extends across various sporting disciplines.
