Nigeria’s participation in the African Games Accra 2023 would not have made any difference, as everything seems uniquely routine. As at the last count, Nigeria was still far behind Egypt in the medals table.
Although Team Nigeria is second on the log, Egypt’s gold medal haul is more than double Nigeria’s total. Every other African nation seems to have given up on how to check the continuous dominance of Egypt in the continent. It has been so for ages.
It’s a shame that, except on one occasion when Nigeria hosted the Games and toppled the Pharaohs no other African country has been able to break their winning streak. Perhaps the time has come for Africa to give Egypt her due respect in sports development.
Instead of spending so much to go to Europe and the US to hone our athletes, perhaps, a rethink, with Egypt in mind, will do Africa a world of good on how to discover, groom and maintain athletes and provide the enabling environment for them to blossom. The gap between Egypt and the rest of Africa is too wide.
On a brighter note, Team Nigeria seems to also hold tight to her traditional areas of comparative advantage, though with little drawbacks here and there. From time immemorial, athletics, particularly in the sprints and middle-distance races have been Nigeria’s mainstay and in this year’s edition of the African Games, it was no different.
Nigeria also thrilled in wrestling, where Dr Daniel Ighali, President of the Nigeria Wrestling Federation led the Nigerian contingent to a clean sweep. Their dominant displays fetched Nigeria a lot of medals.
Tuesday, March 19, Day 2 of athletics at the 2023 African Games was remarkable in Nigeria’s quest for medals. Enechukwu Chukwuemeka won gold in the Shot put event, Ruth Osoro won gold in Women’s Triple Jump and the Nigerian quartet of Emmanuel Ojeli, Patience Okon-George, Sikiru Adeyemi and Omolara Grace Ogunmankinju set the University of Ghana, Legon tracks on fire in the 4×4 Mixed Relay race.
They did not only win the race but this was achieved in a record time of 3.13.26 secs, erasing the 3.13.60 African record set by Team Nigeria at the Tokyo Olympics. The medal was special because of the manner it was achieved.
Above all, the blistering and unassailable strides of Omolara who, after receiving the baton from her team mate was some meters behind her next competitor, ran the race of her life to get to the finish point before anybody else. Her acceleration was exceptional, the determination and technique did the magic.
Running on Lane 6 with Botswana on Lane 5 and South Africa on Lane 7, the Nigerian quartet began on a fast note. Ifeanyi Ojeli covered the first leg perfectly. Patience George Okon, an experienced Olympian was literally sprinting and did well to give Nigerians a glimpse of what was to come.
The third leg covered by Adeyemi Sikiru almost dashed Nigeria’s medal hope as he was sluggish, flatfooted and gave away Nigeria’s leading position to a second place. When he handed the baton to Omolara, the Botswana lady had covered quite an enormous distance many thought was insurmountable.
Then came Omolara, the anchor. She did not disappoint. Her race was inspiring, her speed restored hope, where hope was lost and she never gave up. Together with her team mates, Omolara won the gold medal for self, her family and the Nigerian nation.
When she reached the finish point, she raised her arms towards the sky, eyes closed and her team mates swarmed around her, even Sikiru. The stands quaked in delirium. She was applauded by all, even her competitors couldn’t help but acknowledge the power of the mind, her commitment and determination to win and the patriotic zeal in her. Omolara’s accomplishment set the social media on fire as Nigerians celebrated this mother of two who took a hiatus from athletics to begin a family.
Reacting to the exceptional feat of the Nigerian quartet, especially Omolara, on their X, an athletic platform, Making of Champions wrote: “Omolara Omotosho-Ogunmankinju was the difference for Nigeria in the 4x400m mixed relay on Tuesday as the team fought hard to clinch the gold medal,” adding, “If there’s anything Omolara Omotosho-Ogunmankinju wants from a shopping mall in Naija, she should enter and tell them that the bill is on us…
Omolara singlehandedly turned Silver to GOLD for Nigeria, running down her Botswana opponent to get Nigeria over the line.”
Another Nigerian simply called Opinionated wrote, “Omolara reminds me of Falilat Ogunkoya. What a race!!! ..and to think she’s a mother of 2 lovely kids!! Super woman.”
“Because of Omolara Grace Ogunmankinju, I stay a believer. We won mixed 4×400 relay gold and I was screaming like a mad woman,” Joy Ojeabulu wrote on her X handle.
Omolara Omotosho Ogunmankinju made her first entry into the Nigerian athletics scene in 2012 at the national athletics championships in Calabar where she ran the 400 metres race and returned a time of 51.28.
She was also a member of Team Nigeria to the Olympic Games in London, and the Commonwealth Games. Omolara was also an African championship medallist before the gold in Ghana. Her last competitive race was in 2016 when she returned a time of 51.97 in the national championships in Sapele. It was her last recorded race before she went on temporary break to begin a family life.
On her victory on her comeback race, Omolara told reporters that she obeyed her instincts. “I was closing in, and I told myself that I could do it, just keep on going.” Coming back to racing like a whirlwind makes Omolara special. “It means so much to me. It is a motivation for more to come./ I’m going to cherish this medal for the rest of my life,” she said after the race in Ghana.
