High expectations as Nigeria fields 82 athletes for 2024 Paris Olympics

The Nigeria Olympic contingent has been named and sports fans around the country now know who will be representing the country and in which events at the Paris Olympics. Team Nigeria will soon depart for the quadrennial event in the French capital.

The Paris 2024 Summer Olympics is scheduled to commence on July 26 in France. Nigeria is scheduled to compete in the prestigious tournament.

Since the country made its debut in Helsinki 1952, Nigerian athletes have appeared in every edition of the Summer Olympic Games, except for Montreal 1976 as part of the Congolese-led boycott. A total of 82 Nigerian flagbearers will be competing in at least 11 games in 2024.

The Paris 2024, the event is scheduled to kick off with an  explosive opening ceremony on July 26th.  While Paris is the main host city, some competitions might begin as early as July 24th, and other French cities may also co-host events.

Building on their robust record of being regular participants in Summer Olympics, Nigeria will be represented by 82 athletes to compete across 11 different sports.

A breakdown of the athletes and their events shows that athletics(Track and Field) form the larger share of the contingent with 32 athletes, out of which are 14 male and 18 female athletes. Football, with an 18-woman squad comes second while Basketball with 12 players comes third.

For the first time since 2016, Nigeria will send three boxers to the Olympics. Dolapo Omole (men’s featherweight), Olaitan Olaore (men’s heavyweight), and Cynthia Ogunsemilore (women’s lightweight).  All secured their Olympic tickets in their respective weight classes by reaching the finals in qualifying tournaments.

Below is a list of the sports Nigeria will compete in at the Summer Olympics and the athletes.

The following is the list of number of competitors in the Games

Sport Men Women Total

Athletics 14 18 32
Badminton  1  0  1
Basketball  0 12 12
Boxing  2  1  3
Canoeing  0  2  2
Cycling  0  1  1
Football  0 18 18
Table tennis  2  2  4
Taekwondo  0  1  1
Weightlifting 0  2  2
Wrestling  1  5  6
Total 20 62 82

Athletics:

Men’s 100 m

Favour Ashe
Godson Oghenebrume
Kayinsola Ajayi
Udodi Onwuzurike Men’s 200 m
Emmanuel Bamidele Men’s 400 m
Samuel Ogazi
Chidi Okezie
Edose Ibadin Men’s 800 m
Ezekiel Nathaniel Men’s 400 m hurdles
Men’s 4 × 400 metres relay

Women’s 100 m 

Rosemary Chukwuma
Favour Ofili
Tima Godbless
Favour Ofili Women’s 200 m
Tima Godbless
Ella Onojuvwevwo Women’s 400 m
Esther Joseph
Tobi Amusan Women’s 100 m hurdles
Mixed 4 × 400 metres relay
Chukwuebuka Enekwechi  Men’s shot put
Chinecherem Nnamdi Men’s javelin throw
Temitope Adeshina Women’s high jump
Ruth Usoro Women’s long jump
Ese Brume Women’s Long jump
Prestina Oluchi Ochoogor
Obiageri Amaechi (Women’s discus throw )
Ashley Anumba
Chioma Onyekwere
Oyesade Olatoye Women’s hammer throw
Women’s 4 × 100 metres relay

Mixed 4 × 400 metres relay

Chukwuebuka Enekwechi    –  Men’s shot put

Chinecherem Nnamdi         –  Men’s javelin throw

Temitope Adeshina            Women’s high jump

Ruth Usoro            Women’s long jump

Ese Brume

Prestina Oluchi Ochoogor

Obiageri Amaechi

Women’s discus throw

Ashley Anumba

Chioma Onyekwere

Oyesade Olatoye             Women’s hammer throw

Basketball:

D’Tigress: The Nigerian women’s Bsketball team, De Tigress qualified for her second consecutive Olympics

The Nigerians competed at the 2004 Summer Olympics in basketball, one of ten events their national teams qualified for. The team went 0–5 in the preliminary round. In the 11/12th place game, they defeated the Korea for a final finish of 11th out of 12 teams With this win, they became the first women’s African basketball team to win a game at the Olympics.

De Tigress qualified for the Paris Olympics by finishing in the top two eligible nations at the 2024 Olympic Qualifying Tournaments in Antwerp, Belgium.

Nigeria is grouped alongside Canada, Australia and France
According to FIBA, schedule:

Oyesade Olatoye             Women’s hammer throw

Basketball:

D’Tigress: The Nigerian women’s Bsketball team, De Tigress qualified for her second consecutive Olympics

The Nigerians competed at the 2004 Summer Olympics in basketball, one of ten events their national teams qualified for. The team went 0–5 in the preliminary round. In the 11/12th place game, they defeated the Korea for a final finish of 11th out of 12 teams With this win, they became the first women’s African basketball team to win a game at the Olympics.

De Tigress qualified for the Paris Olympics by finishing in the top two eligible nations at the 2024 Olympic Qualifying Tournaments in Antwerp, Belgium.

Nigeria is grouped alongside Canada, Australia and France
According to FIBA, schedule:

Defenders: Osinachi Ohale (Pachucha Club de Futbol, Mexico); Oluwatosin Demehin (Stade de Reims, France); Michelle Alozie (Houston Dash, USA); Nicole Payne (Portland Thorns FC, USA); Chidinma Okeke (Mynavi Sendai Ladies, Japan).

Midfielders: Deborah Abiodun (University of Pittsburgh, USA); Halimatu Ayinde (FC Rosengard, Sweden); Christy Ucheibe (SL Benfica, Portugal); Jennifer Echegini (Juventus Ladies, Italy); Toni Payne (Sevilla FC, Spain).
Forwards: Rasheedat Ajibade (Atletico Madrid FC, Spain); Esther Okoronkwo (Changchun FC, China); Asisat Oshoala (Bay FC, USA); Uchenna Kanu (Racing Louisville, USA); Chiwendu Ihezuo (Pachucha Club de Futbol, Mexico); Chinonyerem Macleans (Locomotiv Moscow, Russia).
Meanwhile, there are also some players who could be called upon if there are injuries to the 18 players.
Alternate Players: Jumoke Alani (Nasarawa Amazons); Ifeoma Onumonu (Utah Royals, USA); Gift Monday (Coasta Adeje Tenerife Egatesa, Spain); Morufa Ademola (Rivers Angels).

The Super Falcons are in Group C of the Olympics female football tournament alongside Spain, Brazil, and Japan.

25 July 2024  19:00  Nigeria vs Brazil @ Stade de Bordeaux, Bordeaux
28 July 2024  19:00  Spain vs Nigeria  @ Stade de la Beaujoire, Nantes
31 July 2024  17:00  Japan vs Nigeria @  Stade de la Beaujoire, Nantes

Table Tennis
Nigeria entered four table tennis players into Paris 2024. Olajide Omotayo, Offiong Edem and Fatimo Bello qualified for the games following their winning one of six available quota places, in their respective event, at the 2024 African Qualification Tournament in Kigali, Rwanda. Quadri Aruna also qualified as the highest rank African table tennis player.

Quadri Aruna Men’s singles

Olajide Omotayo
Offiong Edem Women’s singles Fatimo Bello

Taekwondo                

Nigeria qualified one athlete to compete at the games. Tokyo 2020 Olympian Elizabeth Anyanacho qualified for Paris 2024 following her victory in the semifinal round in under 67 kg class, at the 2024 African Qualification Tournament in Dakar, Senegal.

Weightlifting
Nigeria entered two weightlifters into the Olympic competition namely Rafiatu Lawal (women’s 59 kg) and Joy Ogbonne Eze (women’s 71 kg) secured two of the top ten slots in their weight divisions based on the IWF Olympic Qualification Rankings.
Rafiatu Lawal Women’s “59 kg Joy Ogbonne Eze Women’s “71 kg

Olaitan Olaore: I want to be the best

Nigerian boxing sensation Adam Olaore has a powerful punch and the conviction to match his nickname.

His accomplishments surpass his age. At just 21, he is already a Nigerian and African champion, and has won events that have been a stepping stone for British Olympic gold medallists Nicola Adams and Anthony Joshua.

“I am a hunter. The thing for me that I believe people see when I box, is how I want to win, I want it more than everyone else. I just want it so much,” he tells Olympics.com.

The highly accomplished and decorated boxer has earned his great nicknames, which range from the popular ‘Big Future’ to the most recent ones coined ‘The Champion’ and ‘Machine’, because of how hard he hits his opponents.

In only his second major event for Nigeria, the British-bred boxer showed outstanding ability at the Africa Olympic Qualifier in Dakar.

“Only the best is what I want to be. That’s why I never really take challenges for the elite sport, because they want to be that person the best in the weight class, the best in the sport.”

Wrestling

Nigeria qualified six wrestlers for each of the following classes. Odunayo Adekuoroye qualified for the games by virtue of top five results through the 2023 World Championships in Belgrade, Serbia. The other five wrestlers qualified by winning the semifinal round at the 2024 African & Oceania Olympic Qualification Tournament in Alexandria, Egypt.

Freestyle

Ashton Mutuwa                    Men’s “125 kg

Christianah Ogunsanya       Women’s “53 kg

Odunayo Adekuoroye          Women’s “57 kg

Esther Kolawole                   Women’s “62 kg

Blessing Oborududu            Women’s “68 kg

Hannah Rueben                   Women’s “76 kg