Over the years, Nigeria has competed in numerous Olympic games, but has never had a showing anywhere close to the level of competition put forth by countries like China, the USA and Britain.

The Olympic Program consists of 26 different sports. At the 2008 Beijing Olympics Nigeria had its best turnout to-date, producing athletes to compete in 10 events. This year at the Rio 2016 Olympics, Team Nigeria will be competing in 8 categories.

The categories in which we can expect to see Nigeria compete are men’s football, basketball, canoeing, table tennis, wrestling, as well as some track and field events. As of now, the most anticipated event for Nigeria promises to be the men’s football competition.

As sports fans may know, competitors in the football competition are divided into preliminary brackets, the success in which determines who will continue on to the next round.

Fortunately for Team Nigeria, their initial bracket lacks heavyweights like Brazil and Germany, giving them a fighting chance at making it to the next round.

Nigeria will face Sweden, Columbia and Japan in Group B of the preliminary round. Brazil has been zoned in Group A against Iraq, Denmark and South Africa. Algeria has been assigned to the most competitive group of the lot, against Honduras, Portugal and Argentina in Group D. Meanwhile Mexico, the defending champions, have been bracketed to compete with Korea, Fiji and Germany. 

Since its first Olympic Game in 1992, Nigeria has been a consistent representative for Africa at the event. In total, Nigerian athletes have won 23 medals over the years, primarily in ‘track and field’ and boxing. Most impressively, the national football team won the Gold medal in 1996.

Nigeria has yet to send athletes to any category of the Winter Olympics. 

By Destiny Kanu