Gifted Markson
As Nigeria prepares for the 2024 Summer Olympic Games in Paris, the nation proudly unveils its list of track and field athletes set to compete.
Nigeria, which has accumulated 27 medals (3 gold, 11 silver, 13 bronze) over its Olympic history, will be represented by a formidable squad, including Ese Brume, the Tokyo 2020 bronze medalist.
Here’s a breakdown of Nigeria’s competitors by sport and gender:
- Athletics (Track and Field): 14 men, 18 women
- Badminton: 1 man
- Basketball:12 women
- Boxing:2 men, 1 woman
- Canoeing: 2 women
- Cycling: 1 woman
- Football:18 women
- Table Tennis:2 men, 2 women
- Taekwondo: 1 woman
- Weightlifting: 2 women
- Wrestling: 1 man, 5 women
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
- Women’s 200 m: Favour Ofili, Tima Godbless, Ella Onojuvwevwo
- Women’s 400 m: Esther Joseph
- Women’s 100 m hurdles: Tobi Amusan
- Mixed 4 × 400 metres relay
- Men’s shot put: Chukwuebuka Enekwechi
- Men’s javelin throw: Chinecherem Nnamdi
- Women’s high jump:Temitope Adeshina
- Women’s long jump: Ruth Usoro, Ese Brume
- Women’s discus throw: Prestina Oluchi Ochoogor, Obiageri Amaechi, Ashley Anumba, Chioma Onyekwere
- Women’s hammer throw: Oyesade Olatoye
- Women’s 4 × 100 metres relay
- Mixed 4 × 400 metres relay
Boxing:
For the first time since 2016, Nigeria entered three boxers into the Olympic tournament. Dolapo Omole (men’s featherweight), Olaitan Olaore (men’s heavyweight), and Cynthia Ogunsemilore (women’s lightweight) secured spots in their respective divisions by advancing to the final match and winning the 2023 African Olympic Qualification Tournament in Dakar, Senegal.
- Dolapo Omole: Men’s Featherweight
- Olaitan Olaore: Men’s Heavyweight
- Cynthia Ogunsemilore: Women’s Lightweight
The boxing competitions at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris are scheduled to run from 27 July to 10 August.
Preliminary boxing matches will occur at Arena Paris Nord in Villepinte, with the medal rounds staged at the iconic Roland Garros Stadium.
Canoeing: Sprint
Two Nigerian female canoeists qualified one boat for the Games through the gold medal result in the C-2 500 metres event at the 2023 African Olympic in Abuja, Nigeria.
- Ayomide Bello, Beauty Otudeo: Women’s C-2 500 m
Cycling: Road Race
Nigeria qualified one rider, Ese Ukpeseraye, who will compete in the women’s road race. She qualified by finishing in the top two at the 2023 African Championships in Accra, Ghana.
Table Tennis:
Nigeria has entered four table tennis players into Paris 2024. Olajide Omotayo, Offiong Edem, and Fatimo Bello qualified after winning quota places at the 2024 African Qualification Tournament in Kigali, Rwanda. Quadri Aruna also qualified as the highest-ranked African table tennis player.
- Quadri Aruna: Men’s Singles
- Olajide Omotayo
- Offiong Edem: Women’s Singles
- Fatimo Bello
Taekwondo:
Elizabeth Anyanacho, a Tokyo 2020 Olympian, qualified for Paris 2024 after a semifinal victory in the under 67 kg class at the 2024 African Qualification Tournament in Dakar, Senegal.
Weightlifting:
Nigeria entered two weightlifters into the Olympic competition. Rafiatu Lawal (women’s 59 kg) and Joy Ogbonne Eze (women’s 71 kg) secured 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
Basketball:
D’Tigress, the Nigerian women’s basketball team, qualified for their second consecutive Olympics.
Nigeria’s athletes are poised to showcase their talent and compete for medals in Paris, continuing the country’s tradition of strong performances at the Summer Olympics.