Paris2024: Sports Enthusiasts Seek Forensic Probe Into Team Nigeria’s Poor Performance

Published

2 years ago

August 14, 2024

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Paris2024: Sports Enthusiasts Seek Forensic Probe Into Team Nigeria’s Poor Performance—-Some Sports stakeholders in the country have called for a forensic probe into the poor performance of Team Nigeria at the just concluded Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Nigeria’s athletes returned home without a single medal for the eight time in the country’s Olympic history, as Team Nigeria concluded its Paris 2024 Olympic campaign.

The 2024 Paris Olympic Games was a replication of the 1952 Helsinki, the 1956 Melbourne, the 1960 Rome, the 1968 Mexico, the 1980 Moscow, the 1988 Seoul and the London 2012.

A cross section of sports enthusiasts who spoke to NAN on Tuesday in Abuja, lamented the lack of podium finish for any of the registered athletes in their respective events.

They said that there was a need for a thorough investigation into everything that transpired at the Games, right from its inception to the end.

Nigeria’s Pillar of Sports, Donatus Agu-Ejidike called on the National Assembly, and other relevant government authorities to launch a forensic probe into Team Nigeria’s shambolic performance at the Games.

This according to him would enable decision makers harvest the necessary information that would guide them on how to avert a repeat in future.

The Anambra-born Sports philanthropist also lamented the administrative ineptitude that led to the omission of some athletes who were before the games, medal prospects.

He stressed that, there was the need for a comprehensive probe to unravel the identity of “who failed to do what”, that denied Ofili the opportunity she had spent years of hardwork preparing for.

He also recalled with regret, the number of athletes of Nigerian descent who, due to the administrative laxity in Nigeria, switched allegiance to represent, and won medals for other countries at the quadrennial event.

“The most painful of them all is Annette Echikunwoke who suffered the same fate as Ofili in Tokyo, wanting to represent Nigeria three years ago.

“She, as a result of the chronic administrative ineptitude that characterises sports administration in Nigeria, switched her international allegiance to U.S., and this time around, she won a silver medal in Hammer Throw.

“Yemisi Ogunleye, another Nigerian by origin, won gold for Germany in Shot Put, and the list goes on and on,” he said.

The Nnewi-born former President of the Karate Federation of Nigeria (KFN) described the performance of Team Nigeria at the event as “shambolic, and unacceptable.

He insisted that those involved must probed, considering the country’s pedigree in the comity of sporting nations globally

“This is coupled with the over ₦12 billion the Federal Government released for the prosecution of the Games.

“How was the money spent that it never impacted our medal fortunes through performance?

“Who was responsible for the non-registration of Favour Ofili for the women’s 100m event?

“How come, nobody raised an alarm, when the list of registered athletes, without her name, came out?

“Why were the D’Tigresses denied entry to the venue of the opening ceremony?” he queried.

These, according to him, are some of the salient questions that needs to be answered by the people in charge.

He, however, praised the individual athletes, saying that, Nigerians noticed and appreciated their efforts, which were never complemented by the administrators.

He singled out the national women basketball team, the D’Tigress, for a special commendation for making it to the quarter finals – a feet never achieved by any African country, male or female.

He also lamented the culture of those running sports in Nigeria, populating the Nigerian contingent with their cronies and relatives – people who have nothing to contribute to the running of the affairs of team Nigeria.

He described it as unfortunate, and called for an end to such a despicable habit, if Nigeria must avoid this type of abysmal outing at any international meet.

“Sports federations’ officials while doing their jobs must do away with the mindset that they are doing the athletes a favour.

“They need to know that, without the athletes, there would be no need for their office and their presence in Paris,” he said.

Sports Entrepreneur and Chairman Gombe State Athletics Association, Ahmed Gara-Gombe, on his part, called on President Bola Tinubu to sack the Sports Minister.

He said this was as a result of the exclusion of top athlete Ofili from the 100m event and the poor performance of Team Nigeria at the Paris Olympic Games, describing it as a National embarrassment.

Gara-Gombe told NAN that the president must impose serious sanctions on the Sports Minister, the NOC President, Habu Gumel and the AFN president, Tonobok Okowa as deterant for future abuse of office.

“Favour Ofili not listed for the 100m event and the overall performance of Team Nigeria at the Olympics was most unfortunate.

“It is a serious embarrassment to our nation, an also to Mr. President and all sports stakeholders,” he said.

He said that he was aware of the initial reactions from the Minister of Sports and also had read the statement and reactions on his X handle, insisting that he did not expect such statements from a Minister.

“The negligence, inefficiency, and the corruption that has eaten deep into Nigerian sports are the root cause of this.

“The Sports Minister unfortunately, has promoted corruption in the sports sector, that’s why we find ourselves in this mess in AFN.

“Since the Minister took office, he has refused to listen to those who would tell him the truth and the true situations in Nigeria Sports,” he said.

Godwin Bamigboye, the National Coordinator of the Association of Football Administrators in Nigeria (AFAN), on his part, said that the sports federations were poorly funded and managed.

Bamigboye stressed that politics has been allowed to prevail over common sense and merit in appointments to federation boards, excluding the passionate.

He said preparations for major tournaments were wishy-washy, adding that most national competitions, including the National Sports Festival (NSF), had become a shadow of their past.

“The worst is the appointment of novices as sports ministers. The fault lies at the door of the Presidents since 1999.

“They use sports to reward politicians instead of appointing capable administrators. This does not need money, just wisdom.

“President Bola Tinubu can return Nigeria to its halcyon days. In the Barcelona ’92 Games, Nigeria had two finalists in the men’s and one in the women’s 100m.

“With 7.12m, Chioma Ajunwa gave Nigeria its first athletics gold at Atlanta ’96. The U23 team beat Argentina to the gold in the ’96 Games and a silver at Beijing 2008,” he said.

He added that the NSF must be revived and the national meets in athletics, table tennis, basketball, handball, volleyball, and others restored.

Isaiah Benjamin, The President, Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) has described the performance of Team Nigeria at the 2024 Olympic Games as far below expectations.

Benjamin attributed the massive failure of the country in Paris to largely administrative incompetence and negligence which were obvious.

This was after Nigeria’s highly rated Track and Field Athlete, Favour Ofili’s name was found missing from the list of those meant to compete in the 100m event.

He wondered why so many promises of medal haul were dished out by the Sports authorities when they were very much aware that there was nothing on ground, including the level of preparation to guarantee a podium performance.

“Before the Games, Nigerians were meant to believe that all was well.

“The Sports Ministry kept assuring that the performance of Nigeria at 2024 Olympics would surpass the country’s best ever outing at the Atlanta 1996 edition.

“The entire media fraternity in Nigeria was equally surprised to hear that the reason Nigeria didn’t perform optimally in Paris was due to lack of preparation by the various Sports Federations.

“This is as it has now been exposed that the Federations only focused on ensuring that their athletes qualified for the Olympics but did nothing to prepare them for Olympics performance,” he said.

The SWAN boss also said that the result from Paris goes to show that so much needed to be done that were not put in place.

He said this was in spite of the huge amount of tax payers money that was made available by the federal government just for participation only.

“This circle has to be put to a stop because it is now obvious that Nigeria’s Sports needs a breath of fresh air.

“It is a well known fact that sporting talents abound in Nigeria but the management of these talents leaves so much to be desired.

“In the past and even at the just concluded Olympics, Nigerians, some of them who had competed for Nigeria, switched allegiance to other countries and did so well to win medals,” he said.

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BREAKING: After 23 Years Cristiano Ronaldo Announces Retirement From International Football

Published

5 days ago

November 5, 2026

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BREAKING: After 23 Years Cristiano Ronaldo Announces Retirement From International Football—-The Portugal captain brings an extraordinary international career to an end after announcing he will hand over the iconic No. 7 shirt following the November international break, leaving behind 234 appearances and a record 146 goals.

Football legend Cristiano Ronaldo has officially announced his retirement from international football, bringing the curtain down on an illustrious 23-year career with the Portugal national team.

The 41-year-old forward confirmed his decision on Thursday, November 5, 2026, through an emotional video message shared on his social media platforms, revealing that he will hand over Portugal’s iconic No. 7 shirt after the November international break.

Ronaldo’s announcement marks the end of one of the most remarkable international careers in football history, having represented his country since making his senior debut in August 2003.

In his farewell message, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner reflected on the privilege of representing Portugal for more than two decades.

“The day has come to hand back the number 7 shirt of our national team,” Ronaldo said, acknowledging the responsibility and pride that came with wearing the famous jersey for 23 years.

Ronaldo Retires as International Football’s Greatest Goalscorer

Ronaldo leaves international football holding the records for the most appearances and goals in men’s international history.

The Al-Nassr forward made 234 appearances for Portugal, scoring an extraordinary 146 goals during his 23-year international journey.

His remarkable numbers place him at the summit of international football, having consistently delivered goals and memorable performances across multiple generations of the Portuguese national team.

He also represented Portugal at six FIFA World Cups and became the first player to score at five different editions of the competition.

Euro 2016 Triumph Remains His Greatest International Achievement

One of the defining moments of Ronaldo’s international career came in 2016 when he captained Portugal to their first-ever European Championship title.

Despite being forced off through injury during the final against France, Ronaldo remained involved from the sidelines as Portugal secured a historic 1–0 victory after extra time through Éder’s memorable goal.

He subsequently guided Portugal to UEFA Nations League glory in 2019 and again in 2025, adding two more major international honours to his collection.

Those achievements cemented his legacy as one of the most influential figures in Portuguese football history.

A Difficult Final Chapter for the Portugal Captain

Ronaldo’s announcement comes after a turbulent period surrounding his relationship with Portugal head coach Jorge Jesus.

The forward’s final chapter with the national team had attracted considerable attention following reports of disagreements during the previous international window.

However, his decision to retire brings an end to a career that has been defined by extraordinary achievements, individual records and an enduring commitment to representing his country.

Ronaldo’s Club Career Continues at Al-Nassr

Although his international journey is coming to an end, Ronaldo has not announced his retirement from professional football.

The Portuguese superstar remains contracted to Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr, where he continues to pursue further goals and trophies at club level.

His international retirement will allow Portugal to begin preparing for life without their long-serving captain, while the responsibility of wearing the iconic No. 7 shirt will eventually pass to another generation.

End of an Extraordinary Era

For more than two decades, Ronaldo carried the hopes of an entire nation, delivering unforgettable goals, historic victories and moments that helped transform Portugal into a major force in international football.

From his emotional debut in 2003 to lifting the European Championship trophy in 2016, his journey with the national team has been filled with remarkable milestones.

Now, at 41, one of football’s greatest careers at international level is reaching its conclusion.

Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal legacy:

International appearances: 234
International goals: 146
Major trophies: Euro 2016, UEFA Nations League 2019 and 2025
International career: 2003–2026
World Cups: Six appearances

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Liverpool Suffer Istanbul Heartbreak as Arsenal Survive in Czechia and City Edge Leipzig

Published

6 days ago

November 4, 2026

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Liverpool Suffer Istanbul Heartbreak as Arsenal Survive in Czechia and City Edge Leipzig—-Liverpool surrender two leads to lose 3–2 against Fenerbahçe, while Arsenal hold off Slavia Prague and Erling Haaland inspires Manchester City to a dramatic victory in Germany.

Wednesday night delivered contrasting fortunes for England’s representatives in the UEFA Champions League, as Liverpool suffered a disappointing 3–2 defeat against Fenerbahçe in Istanbul, Arsenal secured a hard-fought 2–1 victory over Slavia Prague, and Manchester City edged RB Leipzig 3–2 in a five-goal thriller.

The three encounters produced late drama, impressive individual performances and crucial points in the Champions League league phase, with Liverpool becoming the only one of the three English sides to leave the night empty-handed.

Liverpool Throw Away Two Leads in Istanbul

Liverpool suffered their first defeat of this season’s Champions League campaign after surrendering two leads in a dramatic 3–2 loss to Fenerbahçe at the Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium.

The Reds made a promising start and took the lead in the 25th minute through teenage midfielder Trey Nyoni, who found the net with a deflected effort to register his first senior goal for the club.

However, Fenerbahçe responded four minutes later when Mason Greenwood’s free-kick took a significant deflection before beating Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson to restore parity.

Liverpool continued to search for another breakthrough and eventually regained the advantage in the 69th minute through substitute Alexander Isak, who marked his introduction with a close-range finish after connecting with Cody Gakpo’s delivery.

But the visitors’ defensive problems returned almost immediately.

Archie Brown capitalised on a defensive misunderstanding to equalise for the Turkish side in the 73rd minute before Vedat Muriqi completed the turnaround six minutes later, heading home to give Fenerbahçe a 3–2 lead.

Liverpool were unable to find another response, suffering a damaging defeat that ended their perfect start to the European campaign.

Arsenal Survive Late Scare to Beat Slavia Prague

Arsenal maintained their unbeaten Champions League campaign with a 2–1 victory over Slavia Prague in Czechia, although the Gunners were forced to withstand a nervy finish.

Mikel Arteta made six changes to his starting line-up following the weekend victory over Liverpool, but his side quickly demonstrated their attacking quality.

Noni Madueke opened the scoring in the ninth minute after receiving a clever pass from Viktor Gyökeres before calmly finishing past the Slavia goalkeeper.

The Swedish striker then turned goalscorer in the 38th minute, combining with Mikel Merino before producing a composed finish to double Arsenal’s advantage.

Arsenal dominated much of the first half but struggled to maintain the same control after the interval as Slavia Prague increased their attacking pressure.

David Raya produced important saves, while Gabriel Magalhães made crucial goal-line clearances to preserve the visitors’ advantage.

Slavia eventually pulled one back through Wiktor Nowak in the 90th minute, setting up a tense finish.

However, Arsenal held on through stoppage time to secure their third victory of the Champions League campaign and collect another valuable three points.

Haaland Rescues Manchester City in Leipzig Thriller

Manchester City produced a dramatic comeback performance to defeat RB Leipzig 3–2 at the Red Bull Arena, with Erling Haaland scoring the decisive goal in the 78th minute.

City took the lead in the 37th minute when Leipzig defender Castello Lukeba inadvertently turned Nico O’Reilly’s cutback into his own net.

However, Leipzig responded immediately after the restart, with Ridle Baku equalising in the 49th minute to bring the home supporters back into the contest.

Manchester City restored their advantage in the 58th minute through Enzo Fernández, who finished after receiving a pass from Iliman Ndiaye.

The hosts refused to surrender, and Antonio Nusa levelled the score again in the 61st minute, making it 2–2 and setting up an exciting final half-hour.

With the contest finely balanced, Haaland stepped forward to deliver the decisive moment.

The Norwegian striker arrived at the far post in the 78th minute to convert Elliot Anderson’s excellent cross, giving City a 3–2 advantage.

Leipzig pushed for another equaliser, but Pep Guardiola’s side held firm to secure an important away victory and continue their positive Champions League campaign.

Contrasting Nights for England’s Champions League Representatives

The results provided a mixed European night for English football.

While Arsenal and Manchester City collected maximum points from difficult away fixtures, Liverpool were left frustrated after allowing Fenerbahçe to come from behind twice before scoring the winning goal.

Arsenal’s victory strengthened their position in the league-phase standings, while City’s dramatic success demonstrated their attacking resilience.

For Liverpool, however, the defeat in Istanbul represents a setback, with Andoni Iraola’s men needing to address their defensive vulnerabilities ahead of their remaining European fixtures.

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