Tag: Team Nigeria

Team Nigeria’s para powerlifting contingent  yesterday departed for  the 11^th  World Para Powerlifting Championships slated  to hold between October 9^th  and 18^th  in  Cairo, Egypt.

The milestone event marks the first-ever World Championships to be hosted on African soil, symbolizing a new era for the sport on the continent.

The first batch of Team Nigeria athletes left the country yesterday amid cheers and well-wishes from officials, fans, and supporters. The second batch of the contingent is scheduled to leave today, from Lagos, completing the full team that will represent the nation at this landmark competition.

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Speaking ahead of the departure, officials expressed confidence in the team’s readiness and determination to uphold Nigeria’s longstanding reputation as a force to be reckoned with, in global para powerlifting.

The National Sports Commission (NSC) reaffirmed its full support for the athletes, emphasizing the government’s commitment to promoting inclusivity and excellence in sports.

A contingent of 60 student-athletes have departed Nigeria for Annaba, Algeria, to compete in the inaugural African School Sports Championship, taking place between  July 26  and August 5 in the North African nation.

The athletes will represent Nigeria in 10 sports including : athletics (12 athletes), swimming (8), football (18), taekwondo (4), beach canoe (4), badminton (3), basketball 3×3 (3), beach volleyball (2), cycling (2), and table tennis (2).

Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Hon. Bukola Olopade, described the event as a milestone in Nigeria’s grassroots sports journey.

 “This championship means a lot to us because it is about planting seeds. These student-athletes are ambassadors of our future. We are deliberate in creating pathways from the classroom to the global stage.”

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Prior to departure, the team was camped at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja, for  their training sessions .

The Games, organized by the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA), aim to instil Olympic values in African youth and provide a structured platform for talent identification, integration, and development at the grassroots level.

In line with guidelines, all participating athletes submitted valid school certificates. The NSC, in collaboration with the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC), also secured paternal authorizations for all underage athletes in coordination with their families.

Nigeria’s participation reflects the federal government’s broader commitment to grassroots development, in alignment with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s vision to build a robust and sustainable sports ecosystem that nurtures talent from an early age and ensures smooth transition to elite performance.

Minister of Sports Development, Senator John Owan Enoh, has charged Team Nigeria to make a resounding statement of excellence and determination as  the world’s top para-athletes gather in Paris for the 2024 Paralympic Games

Senator Enoh emphasized that the Paralympic Games present a significant opportunity for Nigeria to seek redemption and restore the nation’s pride on the global stage.

“Paris 2024 is not just another sporting event; it’s an opportunity for Team Nigeria to show the world what we are capable of. Our athletes have trained hard, and they are prepared to give their best performance. We are here to compete, to win, and to bring glory to Nigeria,” Enoh said in assigned statement by  his Special Assistant media, Diana-Mary Nsan.  

Team Nigeria is arriving in Paris with a strong contingent of 35 athletes, accompanied by a dedicated team of coaches and medical personnel, all ready to take on the world’s best. The Paralympic Games, scheduled to take place from August 28th to September 8th, will see Nigeria competing in four sports: para athletics, para badminton, para powerlifting, and para table tennis.

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The breakdown of Nigeria’s participation includes five athletes in athletics, two in badminton, nine in powerlifting, and eight in table tennis. These athletes are determined to build on Nigeria’s proud history at the Paralympic Games, where the country first made its debut in 1992 at the Summer Paralympics in Barcelona. Since then, Nigeria has achieved remarkable success, amassing a total of 80 medals, comprising 40 gold, 19 silver, and 21 bronze medals.

Senator Enoh concluded by expressing his confidence in the athletes and his belief in their potential to achieve greatness: “Our para-athletes have always been a source of inspiration and pride for Nigeria. I have no doubt that they will make us proud again in Paris. We are all behind them, and we are confident that they will exceed expectations and bring home numerous medals.”

As the table tennis event of the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games kicks off on Thursday, Nigeria’s eight-man squad, led by head coach Nasiru Sule, is determined to bring home medals.

The team, consisting of six men and two women, will compete in doubles, mixed doubles, and singles events.

Nigeria has a proud history in Paralympic table tennis, with two gold and three bronze medals since their first win in Atlanta 1996.

Sule, who won a bronze medal in Atlanta, believes the team’s extensive preparation in Nigeria and Germany has set them up for success. 

“I think we had one of the best preparations this year because we have been in camp since June before leaving for Germany and this has given us enough time to work on our tactics for the games. There is no doubt that this will be the most competitive Paralympic Games because there are lots of good players heading to Paris. We are aware of this and we are ready to face it squarely because to be the best you must beat the best,” he said.

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Isau Ogunkunle, the current African champion in Men’s Singles Class 4, aims to surpass his quarterfinal finish from Tokyo 2020.

 “It was a good experience for me in Tokyo where I made it to the quarterfinal being my first outing, this time around, I am well prepared for Paris and I know it is not going to be easy just like it was in Tokyo. With the guidance of the technical crew that had exposed us to some of our possible opponents, I think we are battle-ready for the challenges in Paris. I am confident I will return home with something from Paris,” the Birmingham 2020 Commonwealth Games bronze medalist said.

The women’s squad includes Ifechukwude Ikpeoyi (Class 5) and Faith Bazuaye (Class 10), while the men’s team features Ogunkunle (Class 4), Kayode Alabi (Class 6), Abiola Adesope (Class 9), Bolawa Akingbemisilu (Class 5), Victor Farinloye (Class 8), and four-time Paralympian Olufemi Alabi (Class 10).

The Para table tennis events take place at the South Paris Arena, starting on Thursday and concluding on Saturday, September 7th.

In Paris, the singles events will feature all 11 classes for men, while the women’s singles will see 10 classes in action, with classes 1 and 2 combined. Additionally, the Paris 2024 Games will mark the return of doubles events to the Paralympic stage for the first time since 1976. These include two men’s doubles and two women’s doubles events for both wheelchair and standing athletes, as well as one mixed doubles event for each category. However, there will be no doubles events for athletes in class 11.

Unlike previous Games where a group stage was followed by knockout rounds, this year’s events will follow a straightforward knockout format from start to finish.

The schedule kicks off with the men’s, women’s, and mixed doubles events, while the men’s and women’s singles competitions will begin on Sunday, September 1 with 181 athletes competing for glory in Paris.

The closing ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, for which all sport-loving Nigerians had great expectations, has come and gone. 

Speaking on the Games,  President of the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC),  Engr. Habu Gumel, OON, FNSE, has commended the Grand Patron of the Committee, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for providing the resources to support the participation of Team Nigeria in the Paris 2024 Olympics.

The NOC President also commends the Hon. Minister of Sports, Senator John Owan Enoh, for his selfless efforts and welfare support to the team through the period of the Olympic Games.

Notably, a team of 87 athletes across 12 sports was symbolically handed over to the Olympic Committee for the Games from July 26 to August 11, 2024.”

The athletes demonstrated exceptional dedication during the Games, earning eight placement Diplomas for their performances.

Their effort fell short of achieving podium finishes, leading to disappointment among our compatriots at home and abroad.

Within the Olympic Movement, we share in this disappointment as Nigerians, and we are committed to taking decisive action to address the underlying issues that have contributed to these sub-par performances in collaboration with other stakeholders.

In light of this setback, we must analyse the root causes of our shortcomings and revisit fundamental principles.

Witnessing our fellow African nations like Botswana achieve historic milestones at these Games underscores the importance of long-term strategic development for our athletes, emphasising the necessity for strong collaboration and a clear understanding of the various roles within the Olympic family, including partners and the Government.

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Recognising that timely funding plays a pivotal role in securing podium success at the Olympic Games is crucial. Without interruption, it necessitates continuous engagement with athletes, technical experts, professional administrators, and stakeholders throughout the 4-year cycle.

Moreover, as integral components of the Nigeria Olympic Committee, the National Sports Federations should be empowered to consistently prepare athletes, conduct training sessions, and organise qualification events that nurture sporting talents capable of reaching podium finishes.

Also, the participation of the National Teams in major sporting tournaments such as the Commonwealth Games, the African Games, the Youth Games, the World Championships and others are crucial to the preparations for the Olympic Games.

Over the years, we have consistently provided scholarships, grants, coaching, and refereeing courses through the IOC, Olympic Solidarity and ANOCA sources to our athletes and administrators.

Despite the overall below-par- performance, certain sports showcased remarkable achievements. For example, our basketball team, D’Tigress, displayed remarkable resilience and determination by advancing in the tournament and defeating Australia and Canada.

This is the first time an African team in either the men’s or women’s competition reached the quarter-finals of the Olympic basketball event.

Remarkably, our women’s basketball team coach, Trainer Rene Wakama, was voted the best Coach/Manager at the Paris 2024 Olympic Basketball Tournament.

However, unfortunately, many noteworthy stars in our Olympic team could not excel in their various sports, including the World record holder, Tobi Amusan, in the women’s100-meters hurdles.

Looking ahead, we advocated for early preparation and adequate funding as the critical solution, urging the government to implement a comprehensive sports-related concept and target grassroots development programs in schools and colleges. This should also encompass the training and certification of sports managers (coaches, referees, administrators, etc.).

We also appeal to the private sector to complement the effort of government.

A meticulously devised programme spanning four years leading up to the next Olympic Games is crucial for future success.

This initiative should involve the active participation of the private sector in funding sports clubs, developing sports infrastructures and facilities, and providing equipment for athletes.

In conclusion, we aim to reassure everyone that the setbacks of the past will not be repeated as we adhere to the Olympic Movement and the Charter for the betterment of the nation.

It is recommended that the nation kick-start preparations for the next Olympics promptly, with the cooperation of all stakeholders, the government, and notably the private sector, so that we can achieve podium success at the Olympic Games in Los Angeles in 2028.