WAC: Nigeria Needs to Learn from Botswana

 


The just concluded World Athletics Championship in Tokyo, Japan once again displayed the rot in the sporting sector in Nigeria.

Not only did Nigeria failed to qualify for the relay events, the country heavily relied on world record holder, Tobi Amusan, for her only medal. It was a continuation of the very poor performance at the Paris Olympics in 2024 where Team Nigeria left with zero medals.

Amusan's silver medal in the 100mH was the only bright spark at the event with honourable mentions to Ezekiel Nathaniel, who narrowly missed the podium in the men's 400mH final, and Oyinkansola Ajayi, who missed the final of the men's 100m event.



The rest of the 15-man athletics did not make much impact. But stories abound about poor kits. Amusan actually raised alarm with the AFN making a tame reaction to the allegation. Their kits came in batches, they said. We were also told that AFN oficials were more than the athletes in Japan with some allegedly going with girlfriends and concubines! 

While the giant was sleeping, Botswana has caught up and overtaken. Botswana won in the men's 400m., 4x400m with their athletes competing and beating  the best from the US and Jamaica. Nigeria was nowhere to be seen in these races! Nigeria used to dominate Africa in the short sprints- 100m, 200m and 400m. Not just in Africa, but also rubbed shoulders with the best in the world. 


Botsawana we leanrt fot some grants from the IAAF and have used it judiciously. Why we see what is happening in that country. Nigeria naturally has more talents but how do we harness them? 

Salman Eid Naser, born Ebele Agbapaonwu, of Bahrain, won a bronze medal in the women's 400m. She was discovered in 2012 in Port Harcourt during the National Schools Sports Festival. She was not well-managed and Nigeria lost her to Bahrain. Several examples abound.

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