Nigeria, again, returns from Peru without a medal

Following on the heels of the country’s failure to win any medal at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, Team Nigeria, at the weekend, once again, exited the World U-20 Athletics Championships held in Peru without winning a single medal.

Instead, the “Giant of Africa” is flaunting the qualification of three of the nation’s athletes to the finals of their events as a major achievement. The three finalists include long jumper Prestina Ochonogor, who ended in the fifth position, sprinter Justina Eyakpobeya, who finished seventh and 400m runner, Ella Onojuvwevwo, who also finished fifth in the 400 metres women’s race.

Nigeria was also without a medal at the last edition of the World U-20 Championships in Cali, Colombia, last year.

Perhaps, Nigeria’s best moment at the  World U-20 Athletics Championships was in 2021, when the team finished third for the first time in the history of the Championships. That was at Nairobi 2021, where the likes of Favour Ofili, Udodi Onwuzurike, and Godson Brume came into the limelight.

Speaking with The Guardian, yesterday, Porbeni said, who led the team to the championships in 2021, said: “No good coach or administrator changes a winning side. Just imagine barely two years ago we came third with a lot of medals. I was right there as head coach overseeing proceedings.

“Now, look at what is happening as I am kept aside. They believe in political, talkative, and theoretical coaches. We also have administrators who take everything personally above the overall interest of the sport and nation. As no man is perfect, we must pursue high performance above the desire to satisfy certain individuals,” Porbeni said.

Ethiopia finished as the best African nation at the championships, just as Kenya, South Africa, Tunisia, and Uganda also won medals.

With a total of 10 medals, made up of six gold, two silver, and two bronze, Ethiopia retained its status as the best African nation in Peru.

The Ethiopians were also the best African nation two years ago in Cali, Colombia where they won 16 medals made up of six gold, seven silver, and three bronze, losing the overall top spot to the USA which won 15 medals but topped because of the number of gold medals won.

As many as five African nations made it to the medal table with Kenya the second-best African nation with three gold, three silver, and one silver medal, followed by South Africa with three gold, two silver, and two bronze medals.

Tunisia won one gold while Uganda won one silver and two bronze medals to come fourth and fifth respectively among the African nations at the Championships.