‘Nigeria didn’t recognise our efforts at C’wealth Youth Games’

(L-R) Isreal Sunday Okon, Faith Okwose, Samuel Ogazi and Justina Eyakpobeyan of Team Nigeria pose for a photo after winning the Gold Medal in the 4 x 100m Relay Mixed Final on day six of the 2023 Youth Commonwealth Games at Hasely Crawford Stadium on August 10, 2023 in Port of Spain, Trinidad And Tobago. (Photo: Commonwealth Sport)

Nigeria’s contingent to the recently concluded 2023 Commonwealth Youth Games in Trinidad and Tobago is lamenting over what it termed ‘cold’ reception accorded them by the federal government, despite their brilliant performance at the Games.

At the end of hostilities in Trinidad and Tobago, Team Nigeria finished in fifth position with eight medals made up of six gold and two silver medals behind Africa’s best performing nation, South Africa, who finished fourth with seven gold, six silver, and seven bronze.

While the South Africans were given warm reception on their return to Johannesburg, the Nigerians were dispatched from the airport in Abuja without any form of recognition by the government.

The ‘cold’ reception is not going down well with the athletes and their officials. Speaking with The Guardian, yesterday, one of the team’s officials said such ‘cold’ reception is capable of demoralising the young athletes.

“The Super Falcons were celebrated by all Nigerians despite not making it to the quarterfinal at the FIFA Women’s World Cup co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand. They came back home empty-handed, yet they were received and rewarded by the Presidency. The Sports Ministry also celebrated them.

“On the contrary, the main stream of our sports, which we call the future of Nigeria’s sports came from Trinidad and Tobago with six gold and two silver medals, and nobody was on ground to welcome us.