Why NIGERIA Relies On Female Athletes

• To Win At 2024 OLYMPICS

At the ongoing Paris 2024 Olympic Games, Nigeria was to be competing in 11 sports, which started on July 26 and will be over on August 11, but medal hopefuls in the likes of table tennis great, Aruna Quadri, and 11 times African Champions, the Super Falcons have all been exited from the competition. The Women’s Basketball team, the Tigress, shock 75-62 win against world #4, Australia in their opening game, being their first win in an Olympic competition, all hopes are now on the ladies to make the country proud.

Few believe that the country will not be able to win medals in all the events, but hopes are high on the possibility of capitalising on some events such as athletes surpassing the six medals the country won in Atlanta in 1996, which was our first gold and the biggest podium finish in any Olympic competition.

It is now clear that our best chance of a podium finish at the Paris 2024 Olympics is in track, field, and weightlifting events, especially from our female participants, which the likes of Tobi Amusan, Favour Ofili, and Ese Brume are in.

These have been the expectations of Nigerians until a few days ago, when Favour Ofili, our 100 and 200 meters sprint racer poured out her frustration in an open statement to the Athletics Federation of Nigeria, AFN after being omitted from competing in the women’s 100m event at Paris 2024 Olympics via social media.

Ofili who won the Nigerian 100m title at the Olympic trials in Benin to qualify and seal her ticket on the team list, will unfortunately not be running the event in Paris, as the AFN has only entered her for the 200m event.

The talented speedster has been one of the most consistent sprinters this season, having won most of her professional races against some of the world’s best female sprinters, making her a top candidate to get to the final and be a medal hopeful for the country. Sadly, her dreams of doing that are now dashed with the recent development and only now makes her worthy to challenge in the 200m event in which she was entered.

In a statement released by Ofili on all her social media platforms, the National 200m Record holder stated her disappointment, which is now the second consecutive time her Olympic dream has been tampered with due to AFN’s incompetence and disregard. “It is with great regret that I have just been told I will not be competing in the 100 meters at this Olympic Games. I qualified, but those with the AFN and NOC failed to enter my name.

“I have worked for 4 years to earn this opportunity. For what….to not be entered and compete at the Olympic Games because the responsible organization failed to enter me? “Please remember, in the last Olympic Games I was not able to compete because AFN, NADC, and NOC failed to release funds for athletes in the USA to be tested, which made 14 Nigeria athletes that qualified to not compete. Now THIS……. If those responsible are NOT held accountable for taking this opportunity from me, neither organization can EVER be trusted in the future! “Next one is the 200 meters, I hope I’m entered,” she wrote.

This made many sports fans doubt the competency of the federation because Ofili’s name was listed on the initial list released by the AFN. Nonetheless, the nation hoped that she would put aside the disappointment and make us proud in the 200 and 4×100 meters.

Other Ladies the Nation expects to show greatness in the ongoing event are:

TOBI AMUSAN (WOMEN’S 100M HURDLES)

If Nigeria will match or surpass the six medals they won at Atlanta 1996, there is no denying the fact that athletics is the surest event to stack up the medals. Amusan has the brightest chance of winning a medal among the 35 track and field athletes that will be on parade in Paris.

The 27-year-old finished fourth at the last edition in Tokyo, but she has since then smashed the women’s 100m hurdles world record (12.12s) and also won three consecutive Diamond League titles.

Her rivals in Paris would be the USA’s Nia Ali, Alaysha Johnson, current world champion Danielle Williams, and Olympic Champion Jasmine Camacho-Quinn.

ESE BRUME (WOMEN’S LONG JUMP)

The reigning African and Commonwealth Games champion in the long jump. Brume aims to surpass her bronze medal from Tokyo. She has consistently won medals at major competitions since her breakout in 2013. Brume’s personal best is 7.17m, and her world ranking is 4.

The 2013 African Junior Championships was her leaping board, and she has excelled at the African Championships, African Games, Commonwealth Games, World Indoor Championships, and World Championships. Brume’s bronze medal in 2020 was Nigeria’s sole medal in athletics at the Olympic Games and marked the country’s first medal in athletics since 2008.

She is known for her perseverance, often delivering her best jumps in the last attempts. Season’s Best: 6.84m, Personal Best: 7.17m [Set in 2021 in Chula Vista, California, USA] and ranked 4 in the world.

BLESSING OBORUDUDU (WOMEN’S 68KG FREESTYLE WRESTLING)

After winning Nigeria’s first-ever Olympic medal in wrestling at Tokyo 2021, Oborududu will be back again on the mat this year with the responsibility of winning again while also inspiring the five other wrestlers in Team Nigeria. Although it doesn’t guarantee anything, Oborududu might be buoyed by the fact that her opponent and gold medalist in Tokyo, USA’s Tamyra Mensah-Stock, won’t be competing in Paris, having signed with WWE in May 2023. The 35-year-old has 13 African titles.

ELIZABETH AYANACHO (WOMEN’S 67 KG TAEKWONDO)

Chika Chukwumerije’s bronze at Beijing 2008 proved that Nigeria could win something in events like Taekwondo. That has been the first and the last, but Ayanacho is poised to break the duck with her German exposure.

The 25-year-old will be Nigeria’s sole representative in taekwondo in Paris, making history as the first Nigerian female taekwondo athlete to compete in two Olympic Games.

Anyanacho recently won gold at the African Games in Ghana and the Luxembourg Open and is determined to improve on her performance from Tokyo 2020, where she lost 12-7 to double Olympic medalist and former world champion Nur Tartar of Turkey.

ODUNAYO ADEKUOROYE (WOMEN’S 57KG)

A multiple medal winner at the World African Championships and Commonwealth Games, Adekuoroye is eager for her first Olympic medal. After overcoming the disappointment of the 2020 Games, she won gold at the Poland Open Ranking Series. Ranked No. 2 in the world in the 57kg category. Her strength lies in her fastidiousness and energy, though she needs to maintain focus throughout her matches.

Season’s Best: Gold at the Poland Open Ranking Series.

However, the path to Olympic glory is unpredictable, these Nigerian women have the talent and potential to bring home medals from Paris. The nation eagerly awaits their performances and celebrates their dedication and hard work.

–Benprince Ezeh 08068599879