NOC: Nigeria must surpass Atlanta ’96 achievement at Paris Olympics

The Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) says the country must surpass the feat achieved at the 1996 Olympics at the upcoming 2024 edition in Paris.

According to NAN, Habu Gumel, the committee’s president, spoke in a virtual annual general meeting (AGM) on Wednesday.

In a statement signed by Tony Nezianya, NOC spokesperson, Gumel said the committee’s goal is to ensure Nigerian athletes perform better in France next year.

“We need better results from the 2024 Paris Olympic Games; by improving on the 1996 Atlanta Games outing, where Nigeria won two Gold medals,” the statement reads.

“This was the Games where Chioma Ajunwa won gold through her 7.12-metre long jump and the gold by our soccer ‘Dream Team’, led by Nwankwo Kanu.”

The 1996 Olympics remains Nigeria’s most successful games, with six medals won in total. Chioma Ajunwa won gold in the long jump, while the U-23 male football team also won the event.

The quartet of Falilat Ogunkoya, Bisi Afolabi, Fatima Yusuf and Charity Opara won silver in the 4×100 meters relay.

Ogunkoya also won a bronze medal in the women’s 400-meter race, Mary Onyali took the same medal in the women’s 200-meter sprint, while Duncan Dokiwari earned a third-place finish in the men’s super heavyweight boxing event.

The Paris 2024 Olympics is billed to be held between July 26 to August 11, 2024.

Qualifications are still ongoing across different sports. However, the trio of Cynthia Ogunsemilore, Omole Dolapo and Olaore Olaoitan have qualified for the boxing event.