The underwhelming display of Nigeria in the boxing category at the Paris 2024 Olympics has been linked to internal conflicts within the Nigeria Boxing Federation (NBF) and insufficient readiness of the athletes, according to reports by NewsNow.
The issues arose when Azania Omo-Agege took over the federation’s presidency after the suspension of former president Kenneth Minimah by the International Boxing Association, leading to a power struggle between them.
Speaking to our correspondent, Omo-Agege mentioned, “There is a lot of politicking going on. Since I assumed the role of interim president as per IBA’s directive, there has been ongoing conflict with General Minimah, who has been reluctant to step down.”
The discord in leadership extended to the coaching staff, as seasoned coach Tony Konyegwachie was controversially replaced by Adura Olalehin for the Olympics.
Expressing concerns, Omo-Agege noted, “To my knowledge, Tony has never coached an athlete involved in doping issues. Suddenly, Adura was selected to coach our team at the Olympics by the Secretary-General Dapo Akinyele.”
The controversy surrounding the coaching change stemmed from an incident at the African Championships in Douala, Cameroon, where Coach Tony’s request for a share of the boxers’ winnings led to clashes with the federation’s leadership.
Babatunde Laguda, the NBF’s Technical Director, criticized Olalehin’s qualifications, stating, “He lacks a proper training facility for boxers and was brought in under General Kenneth Minimah, who should not be in charge as per the IBA’s directive.”
The preparation of the boxers also faced scrutiny, with athlete Ifeanyi Onyekwere expressing dissatisfaction, “The training was inadequate. We had a one-week camp filled with administrative tasks, leaving little time for rest.”
This sentiment was echoed by other boxers like Zainab Adeshina, who highlighted the lack of proper training equipment during the Olympic qualifiers in Bangkok, Thailand.
In defense, Coach Olalehin argued, “Critics claim we failed, but Coach Tony led teams to previous Olympics, with minimal success. Considering our limited preparation time and resources, our performance was not a total failure.”
He added, “It takes years of consistent training and investment to achieve Olympic success. The recent doping incident further dampened our chances, exemplified by Cynthia Ogunsemilore’s disqualification.”
Demanding a thorough investigation, Omo-Agege stated, “The minister will probe the circumstances behind the doping incident during the camp. There were lapses that need to be addressed”
This disappointing boxing campaign marks a stark contrast to Nigeria’s success at the African Games earlier this year, where the team excelled under Coach Konyegwachie’s guidance.
Calls for a reevaluation of the federation’s leadership and coaching staff have intensified, with the Sports Minister expected to launch a formal inquiry into the team’s performance and the doping episode.
With only one boxer able to compete at Paris 2024 due to the doping issue, Nigeria’s boxing hopes plummet, accentuating the struggle to clinch an Olympic medal since 1996.
Olaore, Nigeria’s contender, exited the Games after a defeat to Kazakhstan’s Aibek Oralbay in the men’s 92 kg heavyweight category’s round of 16.