Nigeria, Africa’s largest team fails in Congo

File photo: GLASGOW, SCOTLAND – JULY 28:

After about fifteen days of competition, the curtains will, today, come down on the 11th  All Africa Games in Brazzaville. And as the delegates depart to their respective homes today, the participants have sad and sweet memories, hard lessons that have been learned and perhaps new experiencesBlessing Okagbare of Nigeria crosses the line to win gold in the Women’s 100 metres final at Hampden Park during day five of the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games on July 28, 2014 in Glasgow, United Kingdom. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

What was in it for Nigeria at the Games, which marked its 50th anniversary in Brazzaville, Congo? Harsh realities that the country has taken a retrogressive dive into the doldrums and have been left behind even by smaller countries in terms of sports development. Nigeria is here with the largest contingent, more that 570 Nigerian participants. What a number, even more than the hosts. And what impact did they make especially in comparison with past games? It’s a tale of a country in sports wilderness. That is the Nigerian story here.

How do we explain the fact that the most populated and naturally endowed nation in Africa can be struggling to play catch up with Egypt, South Africa and Algeria? Nigerian officials counted the medals they won on one finger even in sports they traditionally excelled in the past.

“The Games were commemorative and we are happy to be among the group of Nigerians participating in it,” said National Sports Commission director-general Alhassan Yakmut.

“But we have noted the new advancements. There are new sports being demonstrated and introduced and within the first two days of contests, people had started to win gold. Also other nations have made inroads into areas where we were once a dominant force. The Games are a wakeup call to Nigeria sports technocrats,” added Yakmut who was a former captain of the Nigerian volleyball team.

Just like the Olympics, athletics is the central focus of the All Africa Games. It was regrettable, that Nigeria surrendered its supremacy in the sprints events. The men and women 100m events were won by Cote’d Ivoire. In the 400m, Nigeria was totally out of the picture excerpt for

Patience Okon George’s silver. However, Oluwatobi Amusa 100m hurdles gold and Promise Nwanaga Kelechi’s gold in javelin, showed they were emerging junior athletes who gave hope that things were not totally lost.

“The approach in athletics must stop. It is our traditional event, and it is amazing to see even Kenya known for long distance running, winning medals in the sprints and field events where Nigeria is now failing

“The Games are held every four years and there is ample time to prepare. Nigeria should not be struggling to win medals; we are a big sporting nation.”

The 40 year-old jinx that prevented the country from winning football gold returned to haunt the Nigerian Under-23 team coached by Samson Siasia. The women team, the Super Falcons have also been dragged into the net.

“Watching the men and women teams play in the Games left a sour taste in the mouth. They lacked creativity, cohesion and above all the guts to compete in the highly contest Games,” Yakmut lamented.

He added that “It was really disappointing watching our teams play. But our progress in other ball games have made up for it,”.