Sports stakeholders in Enugu have expressed dismay at the poor performance of Nigeria’s athletes at the just concluded 2024 Paris.
Statement made available to newsmen by the Director of Information,Ministry of Sports,Dan Onwuegbuna , Monday said the Chairman Enugu State Tennis Association and former South-East representative, Nigeria Tennis Federation, Professor Gab Agu Gab,described Nigeria’s performance as unfortunate and poor, resultant of poor preparation, brickbats, rivalry during camping in some sports federations, especially in Basketball Federation.
Pix- Prof Gab Agu Gab
He however, praised D ” Tigress for getting to the quarter- finals of female Basketball event where they lost to United States, In spite of the wranglings in the Federation.
His words: “Nigeria’s performance at the just concluded 2024 Paris Olympics was , poor, the entire team lacked adequate preparation, unfortunate brick-bats, rivalry ,especially in the Basketball Federation. Nobody gave the D’ Tigress any hope of doing well, they tried and qualified for the quarter- final of the Basketball event where they lost to United States’ Professor Gab Agu Gab said.
Pix- Agu
In the same vein, Enugu State Chairman Badminton Association Board, Kester Agu, regretted , that Nigeria could not harness the abundant sports talents in the country. He added that lack of grassroots sports competitions and the unfortunate scenario of best Nigerian athletes not performing for Nigeria and yet do well for other countries , accounted for our failure in the Olympics.
He noted sadly, that Nigeria could not do well in football, wrestling, weightlifting and boxing where we were previously doing well.