Paris 2024 Olympics: We are sorry for underperformance, says NWF

Posted : 19 August 2024

The Nigeria Wrestling Federation ceremoniously welcomed back Team Nigeria wrestlers to the recently concluded Paris Olympics despite falling short of expectations.

The Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, who also serves as a board member of the Wrestling Federation, noted that the reception was intended to motivate the athletes and show solidarity, emphasizing that they are not alone.

The Customs boss expressed confidence that Nigerian wrestlers will make the country proud in international tournaments with the right support and environment.

"We stay together when we are happy and stay together when we are not happy.

"We have a very useful lesson to learn from the experience we gained at the recently concluded Olympics in Paris."

"Therefore, this reception offers us an opportunity to come together to appreciate our athletes and officials for their efforts."

"The Olympics occur once every four years, but we know that sometimes it takes about ten years for an athlete to prepare adequately for the Games.

"Our athletes and officials qualified for the Olympics, which is the highest level of performance in the world. They gave their best, and it was unfortunate that they were unable to win medals.

"But it is not the end of the world because we know they have done it before, and we believe that with the right support and environment, they will do it again.

"Let me repeat that it is not only when we win that we should have this kind of reception.

"We find it necessary to show our athletes and officials that we are indeed a federation and a country that appreciates what they've done," he said.

Meanwhile, the President of the NWF, Daniel Igali, apologized to Nigerians for falling below expectations. The federation had high hopes going into the Olympics due to its past achievements on the global stage.

“We also apologize to Nigerians for not reaching the goals we set for ourselves.

“In the past, there was no federation in Nigeria’s history that has won six world championships. It is only the Wrestling Federation," Igali said.

Six wrestlers, comprising one male and five females, represented Nigeria at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

The wrestlers are Ogunsanya Christianah (53kg), Kolawole Esther (62kg), Adekuoroye Odunayo (57kg), Reuben Hannah (76kg), Oborududu Blessing (68kg), and US-based Mutuwa Ashton (125kg).

Paris 2024 Olympics: We are sorry for underperformance, says NWF

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