Exclusive: "Legendary Ex-Olympian Falilat Ogunkoya Calls for Urgent Reforms: ‘Nigeria Must Act Now or Risk Another Olympic Disaster’"

Nigeria's track and field legend Falilat draws attention to the urgent need for reforms and preparation, after Team Nigeria's poor showing at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Falilat Ogunkoya, arguably one of Nigeria's most popular medal-winning Olympians, spoke to us at Sports Boom in an exclusive interview after a woeful performance from the representatives of Africa's most populous nation, Team Nigeria.

The Nigerian track and field legend who holds the distinction of becoming the first Nigerian to win an individual track and field medal at the Olympic games, spoke to us about her thoughts on the performances of the Nigerian contingent at the Olympics, what she thinks can be done to help the athletes ahead of the next Olympics, and the reasons why the team failed, and many more.

Reflecting on Nigeria’s Recent Olympic Performance

Falilat held no prisoners in giving her thoughts in a thorough reflection of the country's representatives in the different track and field events at the Olympics.

"It was a terrible performance, extremely below par, and I think everyone has to take responsibility.

"We have to prepare for 2028 from now."

On what she thinks went wrong, she said:
"Nothing went wrong, The athletes were meant to have performed better, and they did not."

"Some of them made mistakes; I'm very surprised about Tobi Amusan; she was trying to reserve, and reserved too much, and that's why she couldn't make it to the final.

"This will remain on her mind till 2028".

The ex-Olympian also touched on Tobi's private life about making decisions about the family.

"If she decides she wants to start a family, whatever she decides, she needs to think about it between now and the next 2 years for her to be able to get back and run in 2028."

Comparing Past and Present Structures 

Falilat compared the support and preparation during her active years when Nigeria had notable success in track and field with what's happening today and insists it remains the same.

"Whatever we were receiving then, is what they are still receiving now.

"Nigeria always waits 2 until months before the Olympics before they bring money, and you can't blame the administrators. You have to blame the athletes."

She noted the fact that Nigerians are not happy about the performances of Team Nigeria at the just concluded Olympics.

"Athletes haven't performed well, and every Nigerian citizen isn't happy; what we can do is start preparations now, ahead of the next one."

Talent Identification and Development

Ogunkoya was explicit about the fact that Nigeria isn't doing enough to identify and nurture young talents for future Olympic success.

"Yes, we are not doing enough; we have to do more. There's a "Games" going on at the moment where I hope we can discover some athletes that can represent Nigeria."

On necessary improvements, she identified the importance of having a scout going around for Identification and scouting of talents on behalf of the government and putting the coaches and the federal government on alert for their needs.

"They have to have an individual going around, with questions on what the athletes are doing, have discussions with their coaches, about getting them prepared for the Olympics in 2028.

"That should be 2 years or a year before the Olympics "

Image Credits: CHRISTIAAN KOTZE/AFP via Getty Images

Funding and Investment in Sports

The 1996 Atlanta Olympics Bronze medallist highlighted the Lack of adequate funding as a recurring issue.

"The problem with funding in Nigeria, especially on the part of the private sector, is that they do not recognise and support them while they are growing and performing gradually until they get to the peak of success."

"Tobi Amusan was a world champion, a World Record holder before Glo could give her something; it shouldn't be like that." She said, buttressing her point.

Issuing a rallying cry to the Private sector, to help the government fund, and invest in the athletes, she said:

Coaching and Training Standards

Evaluating the quality of coaching in Nigeria, Falilat minced no words in praising the elite athletics coaches in Nigeria such as her ex-coach.

"We have good coaches in Nigeria, my coach is in Nigeria, and he coached me to win a medal. The training is very hard, you have to be a strong individual to undergo it.

"The training for the Olympics is very hard, it isn't an easy one, so the individual would have to be strong enough to withstand it."

She went on to further recommend him and asked questions while he wasn't on the plane to Paris 2024 as well.

"They can go and meet him, and I don't know why Nigeria would go to the Olympics without calling him.

"I don't know who the coaches at the Olympics were!"

In defence of the Nigerian coaches, she stated some of the athletes don't listen to them but rather listen to their American counterparts who train them.

"But, they forget they are Nigerian, and the coaches back at home are Nigerian; sometimes when they talk to you, you listen to them. A little advice might help".

Government and Federation Roles

The Elite Olympian, in her prime, spoke about the roles the government and sports federations can play in reversing Nigeria’s poor Olympic fortunes ahead of the next one.

"The Sports Federation can only do trials to pick the best, and as soon as that's done, they should put them in camp, watch them train.

"Those going to their base in Europe should return, and those left behind should be left in camp for proper training and monitoring by the sports federation.".

"Some of the federations Presidents, and officials are just there to attend the Olympics, the World Championships, they care only about the accreditation, they want to use it for personal gains and after that, that's all.

"They collect the allowance as the President and that's it. But, some of them are serious, like Igali, he is a very serious President."

She unequivocally stated that the federation is not doing enough, and pointed to areas where they need to step up.

"They need to be giving the athletes money, they have to pay physio, they have to pay the coaches, they have to pay the nutritionist, they have to pay a lot of people, they have to pay their house rent.

"So Nigeria needs to give the athletes training grants, not money for shopping. When the competition is around, that's when they bring the money." She concluded.

Advice for the Next Generation 

Advising the federation ahead of the next Olympics, which she stated was around the corner. Falilat expressly stated that the sports Administrators and the Sports Minister should start reaching out to the athletes.

"I would tell you that all the Nigeria Sports Administrators that can talk to their athletes, the Minister as well, needs to start talking to their athletes via mobile and personal visits.

"What are you doing? what do you need? what can we do for you? how can we help you?"

As an ex-Olympian herself, she also had a few words for the athletes and the younger ones coming into the fold ahead of the next Olympics.

"My advice for them is to come back stronger and win medals, just like what Favour Ofili said after her race.

"I pray they all come back stronger, God will be with them, they will be healthy, and not have injuries."

Strategy and Goal Setting for Paris 2024

The respected Olympian, looking forward to the next Olympics, said strategic steps should be taken to ensure a better outcome than the failure experienced last time.

"When they talk about sports in Nigeria, people are not as excited as before anymore. But sports is a business, that is what unites everyone in the world.

"Sports unites enemies when it's time for an event, so we have to manage that, and respect people who are into sports.

Outlining respect and support from citizens and the media as well are key components that can help the athletes psychologically in improving their performance.

"Being a sportsman isn't an easy job; it's very tough, and we have to respect every sportsman and give them Kudos.

"The press too should rather encourage them, instead of calling them flops, when have their off days. Speak with them and encourage them rather than pull them down.

Legacy and Future of Nigerian Athletics

Filled with optimism, the legend foresees a great future for athletics in the country.

"Nigeria athletics is a good place, we have a good future. We have a lot of athletes, with the many athletes they have now, they will achieve a lot of things.

"If they manage the athletes very well, they will achieve a lot of things, they will win a lot of medals going forward.

She stated that the country can build a sustainable system, that consistently produces Olympic medalists only if preparation meets the words of both the government and the athletes.

"They will deliver Gold if we prepare very well."

Highlighting the state of mind of World Record holder Tobi Amusan as a source of concern and insisting that she be left alone, as she's still reeling from missing out on the final in her event.

"Tobi Amusan is not a happy athlete for now; how can you say a World Record holder, a former world champion, would not make it to the final in the Olympics? It isn't good.

"So she's not a happy person, and they should let her be. If she wanted to talk, she would talk; if she didn't want to talk, she wouldn't.

"they should let her be; may God help her to achieve whatever is left that she wants to achieve."