Purity Akuh, the coach of Nigeria’s wrestling team, has voiced strong concerns over the inadequate preparation and funding allocated to Team Nigeria for the recently concluded Paris 2024 Olympics.
Despite confirming that all financial dues had been disbursed, Akuh emphasized that the funds were insufficient to prepare the athletes adequately, pointing out the stark contrast between Nigeria’s spending and that of other countries.
Akuh decried the late preparation for the Olympics, stating that effective preparation for such a global event requires consistent effort over four years, not just a few weeks.
“Olympics preparation is a marathon, not a sprint,” Akuh remarked, stressing that Nigeria’s limited resources and delayed readiness severely hampered the team’s chances of success.
Highlighting the disparity in funding, Akuh noted that while Nigeria allocated approximately 12 billion naira for Olympic preparation,
Team USA invested a staggering $230 million (around 368 billion naira). Similarly, France devoted over $125 million (200 billion naira) to enhance the salaries and training of about 1,000 athletes with strong medal prospects.
This stark difference, Akuh implied, underlines the challenges faced by Nigerian athletes, who must often compete on the global stage with far fewer resources.
Despite the challenges, Akuh remains optimistic about the future, expressing hope for better outcomes in subsequent international competitions.
He also acknowledged the resilience of the Nigerian wrestlers, who continue to excel on the African continent despite these setbacks. However, he reiterated the need for long-term investment and strategic planning if Nigeria is to compete effectively on the global stage
