The Olympic Games hold universal appeal, not just because of their sporting heritage but because of the cultural heritage they embody. The 33rd edition will take place in Paris, France, from July 26, 2024, to August 11, 2024. It’s commonplace to find numerous individuals glued to their seats in front of the television in anticipation of the Olympic events, regardless of their age, sex, gender, or race.
The heroics of Nigeria’s greatest-ever football team, the 1996 Olympics Dream Team, are still fondly remembered by everyone. Elderly Nigerians still rave about it to this day! That particular Olympic event was historic for the country in many ways as Chioma Ajunwa also famously secured a gold medal in the long jump event.
As the Paris 2024 Olympics draw closer, we take a look at the sports Nigeria will be participating in during the historic sporting event and the flag bearers of our Olympic quest.
ATHLETICS
32 athletes will compete for Nigeria in the track and field events at The Olympic games.
TRACK EVENTS
Commonwealth Bronze medalist Favour Ashe, Godson Oghenebrume, and Kayinsola Ajayi will represent Nigeria in the men’s 100 m races, while Commonwealth Silver medalist Favour Ofili, Rosemary Chukwuma, and Tima Godbless will compete for Nigeria in the women’s 100 m races.
Udodi Onwuzurike is joined by female compatriots Favour Ofili and Tima Godbless in the men’s and women’s 200 m race categories.
Emmanuel Bamidele, Samuel Ogazi, and Chidi Okezie will represent Nigeria in the men’s 400 m races, while Esther Joseph and Ella Onojuvwevwo represent Team Nigeria in the women’s 400 m races.
Edose Ibadin and Ezekiel Nathaniel are the country’s sole representatives in the men’s 800 m category and the men’s 400 m hurdles, respectively.
The men’s 4 × 100 meters relay team is comprised of Favour Ashe, Godson Oghenebrume, Kayinsola Ajayi, Udodi Onwuzurike, Usheoritse Itsekiri, and Alaba Akintola.
The men’s 4 × 400 meters relay team is made up of Samuel Ogazi, Chidi Okezie, Dubem Amene, Dubem Nwachukwu, and Ifeanyi Ojeli. There are high hopes and expectations for this team following their stellar performance in their second-place qualification finish at the 2024 World Relays.
World record holder Tobi Amusan will compete in the women’s 100 m hurdles. She’s unarguably the face of Team Nigeria in this tournament. A firm favorite for the gold medal going into the competition, all eyes will be on Team Nigeria’s flag bearer.
The women’s 4 × 100 meters relay team is comprised of Favour Ofili, Tima Godbless, Rosemary Chukwuma, Olayinka Olajide, and Justina Eyakpobeyan.
The mixed 4 × 400 meters relay team is made up of Ella Onojuvwevwo, Esther Joseph, Omolara Ogunmakinju, Patience Okon George, Sikiru Adeyemi, and Isreal Okon Sunday.
FIELD EVENTS
Chukwuebuka Enekwechi will compete for Nigeria in the men’s shot put category. Chinecherem Nnamdi is Nigeria’s sole representative in the men’s javelin throw.
Temitope Adeshina will represent Team Nigeria in the women’s high jump category.
Olympic bronze medalist Ese Brume, Ruth Usoro, and Prestina Oluchi Ochoogor will compete for Nigeria in the long jump category.
Obiageri Amaechi, Ashley Anumba, and Chioma Onyekwere will represent the country in the women’s discus throw, while Oyesade Olatoye will represent Nigeria in the women’s hammer throw category.
BADMINTON
Anuoluwapo Juwon Opeyori will represent Nigeria in the men’s singles category. He has been appointed as the Team Captain for Team Nigeria at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
BASKETBALL
D’Tigress secured qualification for the games and will aim to secure a medal in this edition. This marks a second consecutive appearance for the first African team to win a female basketball game at the Olympics.
They kick off their Olympics campaign on July 29, 2024, against Australia. Subsequently, they will face hosts France and Canada in Group B. Head Coach Rena Wakama is confident in her team’s ability to have a stellar showing at this tournament.
The 16-women team is made up of Olaoluwatomi Taiwo, Elizabeth Balogun, Amy Okonkwo, Promise Amukamara, Ezinne Kalu, Blessing Ejiofor, Lauren Ebo, Murjanatu Musa, Ifunanya Okoro, Pallas Kunayi-Akpannah, Christeen Iwuala, Adebola Adeyeye, Nicole Enabosi, Rita Igbokwe, Solape Amusan, and Lucy Ibeh will represent Nigeria.
BOXING
Olaitan Olaore will compete in the heavyweight category, and Dolapo Omole in the featherweight category. Boxing sensation Olaore has taken the world by storm early in his boxing career. All eyes will be on him to etch his name into the history books in this Olympics edition.
Cynthia Ogunsemilore will be competing in the female lightweight category. Much is expected of the young boxer, who secured a gold medal at the All African Games in Ghana and a bronze medal at the Commonwealth Games. This marks the highest number of boxers representing the West African nation since Rio 2016.
CANOEING
Ayomide Bello and Beauty Otudeo will paddle their boats for Nigeria in the women’s C1 – 200m & C-2 500 m canoe sprints respectively. They’ll be looking to build on their gold medal success in the 2023 African Olympic Qualification rounds.
CYCLING
Ese Ukpeseraye will compete in the women’s road race at the Paris 2024 Olympics. She is Nigeria’s first cyclist to feature in a cycling event at the Olympics.
SWIMMING
Tobi Sijuade and Adaku Nwandu will represent Team Nigeria in the men’s 50 m and women’s 50 m freestyle event categories, respectively. Sijuade famously helped Nigeria secure a third consecutive Olympic swimming spot in the men’s category.
FOOTBALL
Unarguably Nigeria’s favorite sporting event at the Olympics, Nigerians are greatly disappointed by the failure of The Olympic Eagles to qualify for the Olympics. However, The Super Falcons secured their spot in the tournament. The Nigerian female football team will kick off their Olympic campaign against Brazil on July 25, 2024, in Group C.
They will also face off against World Champions Spain and Japan. Head coach Randy Waldrum has his work cut out for him. It’s their first appearance since Beijing 2008 and fourth appearance overall, a continental record. They are joined by Zambia as the African continent representatives in the competition.
The Super Falcons have a difficult journey ahead, and it remains to be seen if they’ll record a higher finish than their Athens 2004 quarter-final record in this edition, an all-time African record.
Agba Baller joins the young team consisting of big names such as Michelle Alozie, Rasheedat Ajibade, and Chiamaka Nnadozie. Other players include:
GOALKEEPER
Tochuwkwu Oluehi
DEFENDERS
Osinachi Ohale, Tosin Demehin, Nicole Payne, Chidinma Okeke
MIDFIELDERS
Deborah Abiodun, Christy Uchiebe, Jennifer Echegini, Toni Payne
FORWARDS
Uchenna Kanu, Esther Okoronkwo, Chinwendu Ihezuo, Chinonyerem Macleans, Ifeoma Onumonu
ALTERNATE PLAYERS
Jumoke Alani, Gift Monday, Regina Otu, and Morufa Ademola.
An injury to Halimatu Ayinde paved the way for 30-year-old Ifeoma Onumonu’s selection to the 18-woman squad from the alternate players’ list, and Regina Otu replaced her. Bonne Chance, Falcons!
TABLE TENNIS
Aruna Quadri and Olajide Omotayo will represent Team Nigeria in the male category. Aruna Quadri enters the tournament in fine form, having topped the African Players qualification ranking, and he’ll aim to make a mark in this edition.
Offiong Edem and Fatima Bello will represent Nigeria in the women’s single category.
TAEKWONDO
Elizabeth Anyanacho will represent Team Nigeria and make another appearance at the Olympics in the 67 kg category. She becomes the first woman to compete for Nigeria in taekwondo in two different Olympics editions.
WEIGHTLIFTING
African Games gold medalists Rafiatu Lawal and Ogbonne Eze Joy will represent Team Nigeria in the women’s 59 kg and 71 kg categories, respectively. Rafiatu famously secured gold for Nigeria at the Commonwealth Games in 2022.
WRESTLING
Team Nigeria named a strong lineup for the wrestling matches, a perfect blend of experience, talent, and youth! Ashton Mutuwa is the sole competitor in the men’s category, the 125 kg category. Christianah Ogunsanya will compete in the women’s 53 kg, while Odunayo Adekuoroye, Esther Kolawole, and Hannah Rueben will represent Nigeria in the women’s 57 kg, 62 kg, and women’s 76 kg categories, respectively.
Twelve-time African champion Blessing Oborududu deserves a special mention. She famously helped secure Nigeria’s first-ever Olympic medal in wrestling at Tokyo 2020. It remains to be seen if she’ll build upon her heroics last time out and secure a gold medal in the women’s 68 kg category.
The various teams have undergone intensive training and preparation for the Paris 2024 Olympics. There are 82 athletes competing on behalf of Team Nigeria, and expectations are high for them. Will they replicate the efforts of the holy grail of Nigeria’s Olympic campaigns, or will they outperform them? Will they fail to match up to them? Time will tell!
