In a scathing critique, the Minister of Sports Development, Senator John Enoh, has slammed Team Nigeria's performance at the 2024 Paris Olympics, calling it a "disaster." The minister’s remarks come as Nigeria’s medal hopes were dashed after the 4x400m relay team was disqualified despite securing a second-place finish. The disqualification was due to one of the team members impeding a South African athlete during a baton changeover.
Adding to the nation's woes, Nigerian sprint sensation Tobi Amusan failed to qualify for the final in the women’s 100m hurdles, finishing third in her heat with a time of 12.55 seconds—insufficient to advance even as one of the best losers.
Senator Enoh didn't hold back in his criticism, stating on X (formerly Twitter) that drastic measures are necessary to prevent a repeat of what he described as a "Paris disaster." He hinted at a potential overhaul in the leadership of Nigeria’s sports federations, suggesting that the upcoming elections would be a crucial opportunity to ensure only the most qualified individuals are put in charge.
"We must do everything to prevent future occurrences of the Paris disaster, and if this will entail the review of how people are elected to lead our sporting federations, it will be done," Enoh declared. He emphasized that Team Nigeria's poor showing at the Olympics is symptomatic of deeper issues within the nation's sports administration that require urgent attention.
The minister insisted that the government had done everything in its power to support the athletes, including providing adequate financial resources, but lamented that these efforts did not translate into any medals. As the sports federations prepare for elections, Enoh vowed to ensure that only thoroughly vetted and capable candidates will be allowed to lead, signaling a potential shake-up in the country’s sports leadership.
