John Enoh, the Minister of Sports Development, has labeled Team Nigeria’s performance at the 2024 Paris Olympics as a “disaster.” In a statement posted on his X account on Saturday, Enoh vowed to address the issues that led to the nation’s lackluster showing in France.
Despite sending over 80 athletes to Paris, Nigeria did not win a single Olympic medal, marking the first time since 2012 that the country has failed to secure a podium finish.
The Nigerian contingent faced administrative challenges and poor technical decisions, contributing to their disappointing performance. Enoh emphasized the need for reform, starting with the upcoming sports federation elections, to prevent future failures. He promised to ensure that only the most qualified individuals are elected to lead the various sports federations.
Enoh stressed the importance of taking proactive measures to avoid repeating the “Paris disaster.” “As we return home, we must do everything possible to prevent a recurrence of the Paris disaster. If this requires reviewing how leaders are elected to our sports federations, then it will be done,” he stated. “The upcoming federation elections provide an ideal opportunity to select only the most capable individuals to lead our sports organizations.”
He further explained, “Team Nigeria’s disappointing performance at the 2024 Paris Olympics, where we did not secure any medals, is not just a result of our participation but a symptom of deeper issues that need immediate attention.”
Despite the setback, three athletes and two footballers of Nigerian heritage won medals for their adopted countries. President Bola Tinubu had approved N12 billion for Nigeria’s participation in the Paris Olympics and Paralympic Games.
