Nigeria at the 1996 Summer Olympics
Encyclopedia
Nigeria
competed at the 1996 Summer Olympics
in Atlanta
, United States
.
The most surprising achievement was Nigeria's gold in football. The team overcame what are usually considered much stronger teams, such as Spain and Brazil to earn the gold.
Athletics
Men's 4x400m Relay
Men's 400m Hurdles
Men's Discus Throw
Women's 4x400m Relay
Women's 400m Hurdles
Women's Long Jump
Boxing
Men's Bantamweight (– 54 kg)
Men's Featherweight (– 57 kg)
Men's Light Middleweight (– 71 kg)
Super Heavyweight (+ 91 kg)
Tennis
Men's Singles Competition:
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
competed at the 1996 Summer Olympics
1996 Summer Olympics
The 1996 Summer Olympics of Atlanta, officially known as the Games of the XXVI Olympiad and unofficially known as the Centennial Olympics, was an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1996 in Atlanta, Georgia, United States....
in Atlanta
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
The most surprising achievement was Nigeria's gold in football. The team overcame what are usually considered much stronger teams, such as Spain and Brazil to earn the gold.
Gold
- Chioma AjunwaChioma AjunwaChioma Ajunwa , is a former athlete from Nigeria, who previously played football for the Nigerian women's team. She is the first Nigerian to win an Olympic gold medal as well as the first African woman to win an Olympic gold medal in a field event...
— AthleticsAthletics at the 1996 Summer OlympicsAt the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, 44 events in athletics were contested, 24 by men and 20 by women. There were a total number of 2053 participating athletes from 191 countries.-Men:...
, Women's Long Jump
- Abiodun ObafemiAbiodun ObafemiAbiodun Obafemi is a Nigerian footballer. He is a defender who played most of his career in Germany, and was part of Nigeria's Gold Medal winning team at the 1996 Olympics.-External links:*...
, Augustine Okocha, Celestine BabayaroCelestine BabayaroCelestine Hycieth Babayaro is a former Nigerian footballer.-Club career:Babayaro began his playing career at Nigerian side Plateau United, before moving to Belgium club Anderlecht in 1994, and eventually would make a name for himself, quickly gaining first-choice status although still a...
, Daniel AmokachiDaniel AmokachiDaniel Owefin Amokachi nicknamed "The Bull" is a former football striker from Nigeria.- Career :While playing for Ranchers Bees, Amokachi was discovered by Nigerian national team coach Clemens Westerhof, who brought the talented player to the 1990 African Nations Cup, and soon Amokachi moved to...
, Emmanuel Amuneke, Emmanuel BabayaroEmmanuel BabayaroEmmanuel Hyacinth Babayaro is a Nigerian footballer. He is a goalkeeper, best known for being older brother of former Chelsea and Newcastle United player Celestine Babayaro....
, Garba LawalGarba LawalGarba Lawal is a football midfielder from Nigeria. He is currently a contracted player-assistant manager with Lobi Stars F.C..-Career:...
, Joseph Dosu, Nwankwo KanuNwankwo KanuNwankwo Kanu, OON , or simply Kanu, is a Nigerian footballer who plays for Portsmouth. He was also a member of the Nigerian national team for 16 years from 1994 until 2010...
, Kingsley ObiekwuKingsley ObiekwuKingsley Obiekwu is a retired Nigerian footballer who played as a defender.He represented Nigeria at international level and was a member of the squad which won the gold medal at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta.-References:...
, Mobi Obaraku, Uche Okechukwu, Sunday Oliseh, Taribo WestTaribo WestTaribo West is a retired Nigerian professional footballer who played as a defender. West represented the Nigerian national team in the 1998 and 2002 World Cups. He is known for the various unusual and colourful hairstyles that he has sported over the years.-Club career:Taribo moved to France in...
, Teslim FatusiTeslim FatusiTeslim Fatusi is a Nigerian international footballer who played as a winger.-Club career:Born in Surulere, Lagos State, Fatusi began playing youth football with Honey Babes and Ibukun Oluwa. He joined the youth team of Stationery Stores F.C. in 1991, and signed for the senior side in 1992...
, Tijani Babangida, Victor IkpebaVictor IkpebaVictor Nosa Ikpeba is a former football forward from Nigeria. He has played thirty international matches and scored three goals for Nigeria, and played at the FIFA World Cups in 1994 and 1998...
, and Wilson OrumaWilson OrumaWilson Oruma is a former football midfielder from Nigeria.He became the tournament top goalscorer when Nigeria won the 1993 FIFA U-17 World Championships...
— Football (soccer), Men's Team Competition
Silver
- Falilat OgunkoyaFalilat OgunkoyaFalilat Ogunkoya is a Nigerian athlete.Ogunkoya has won a number of national championships, including a gold medal in 1996 in the 400 metres, gold in the 200 metres and 400 m in 1998, and gold again in 1999 and 2001 in the 400 m. At the 1987 All Africa Games in Kenya she won the silver medal in...
, Bisi Afolabi, Fatima YusufFatima YusufFatima Yusuf-Olukoju is a retired Nigerian athlete, who competed mainly in the 400 metres during her career. She won 400 metres race in the 1991 All-Africa Games and was second in the 200 metres race. She is married to Adewale Olukoju.She later competed in the 200 meters at the World Championship...
and Charity OparaCharity OparaCharity Opara is a former Nigerian athlete who mainly competed in the 400 metres. She was in particular a successful relay runner, winning the silver medal at the 1996 Olympics....
— AthleticsAthletics at the 1996 Summer OlympicsAt the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, 44 events in athletics were contested, 24 by men and 20 by women. There were a total number of 2053 participating athletes from 191 countries.-Men:...
, Women's 4x400 metres Relay
Bronze
- Falilat OgunkoyaFalilat OgunkoyaFalilat Ogunkoya is a Nigerian athlete.Ogunkoya has won a number of national championships, including a gold medal in 1996 in the 400 metres, gold in the 200 metres and 400 m in 1998, and gold again in 1999 and 2001 in the 400 m. At the 1987 All Africa Games in Kenya she won the silver medal in...
— AthleticsAthletics at the 1996 Summer OlympicsAt the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, 44 events in athletics were contested, 24 by men and 20 by women. There were a total number of 2053 participating athletes from 191 countries.-Men:...
, Women's 400 metres
- Mary Onyali — AthleticsAthletics at the 1996 Summer OlympicsAt the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, 44 events in athletics were contested, 24 by men and 20 by women. There were a total number of 2053 participating athletes from 191 countries.-Men:...
, Women's 200 metres
- Duncan DokiwariDuncan DokiwariDuncan Dalnajeneso Danagogo Dokiwari is a Nigerian boxer. At the 1996 Summer Olympics he won a Men's Super Heavyweight bronze medal, together with Aleksey Lezin of Russia.-Background:...
— BoxingBoxing at the 1996 Summer Olympics-Qualification:The following tournaments were used as qualification tournaments for boxing at the 1996 Summer Olympics.Africa* All-Africa Games in Harare, Zimbabwe from September 13 to September 23, 1995* Qualification Tournament in April/May? 1996...
, Men's Super Heavyweight
AthleticsAthletics at the 1996 Summer OlympicsAt the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, 44 events in athletics were contested, 24 by men and 20 by women. There were a total number of 2053 participating athletes from 191 countries.-Men:...
Men's 4x400m Relay
- Udeme EkpeyongUdeme EkpeyongUdeme Ekpeyong is a retired Nigerian sprinter who specialized in the 400 metres.Ekpeyong won a bronze medal in 4 x 400 metres relay at the 1995 World Championships, together with teammates Kunle Adejuyigbe, Jude Monye and Sunday Bada. At the 1992 Summer Olympics he finished fifth with teammates...
, Clement ChukwuClement ChukwuClement Chukwu is a former Nigerian athlete who specialised in the 200 and 400 metres.Chukwu attended Eastern Michigan University....
, Ayuba Machem, and Sunday BadaSunday BadaSunday Bada is a retired Nigerian sprinter who specialized in the 400 metres event.Bada won three medals at World Indoor Championships, including a gold medal in 1997.... - Heat — 3:02.73
- Semi Final — DSQ (→ did not advance)
Men's 400m Hurdles
- Kehinde AladefaKehinde AladefaKenny Aladefa is a Nigerian track and field athlete who competed in 400 metres hurdles at the 1996 Summer Olympics and won a silver and bronze medal at the All-Africa Games in 1995 and 1999....
- Heat — 49.60s (→ did not advance)
Men's Discus Throw
- Adewale OlukojuAdewale OlukojuAdewale Olukoju is a Nigerian athlete who competed in discus throw and shot put. He was very prominent in African athletics in the late 1980s and early 1990s, winning four gold medals in total at the All-Africa Games....
- Qualification — 60.98m (→ did not advance)
Women's 4x400m Relay
- Bisi Afolabi, Fatima YusufFatima YusufFatima Yusuf-Olukoju is a retired Nigerian athlete, who competed mainly in the 400 metres during her career. She won 400 metres race in the 1991 All-Africa Games and was second in the 200 metres race. She is married to Adewale Olukoju.She later competed in the 200 meters at the World Championship...
, Charity OparaCharity OparaCharity Opara is a former Nigerian athlete who mainly competed in the 400 metres. She was in particular a successful relay runner, winning the silver medal at the 1996 Olympics....
, and Falilat OgunkoyaFalilat OgunkoyaFalilat Ogunkoya is a Nigerian athlete.Ogunkoya has won a number of national championships, including a gold medal in 1996 in the 400 metres, gold in the 200 metres and 400 m in 1998, and gold again in 1999 and 2001 in the 400 m. At the 1987 All Africa Games in Kenya she won the silver medal in... - Qualification — 3:23.24
- Final — 3:21.04 (→ Silver Medal)
Women's 400m Hurdles
- Lade Akinremi
- Qualification — 56.83 (→ did not advance)
Women's Long Jump
- Chioma AjunwaChioma AjunwaChioma Ajunwa , is a former athlete from Nigeria, who previously played football for the Nigerian women's team. She is the first Nigerian to win an Olympic gold medal as well as the first African woman to win an Olympic gold medal in a field event...
- Qualification — 6.81m
- Final — 7.12m (→ Gold Medal)
BoxingBoxing at the 1996 Summer Olympics-Qualification:The following tournaments were used as qualification tournaments for boxing at the 1996 Summer Olympics.Africa* All-Africa Games in Harare, Zimbabwe from September 13 to September 23, 1995* Qualification Tournament in April/May? 1996...
Men's Bantamweight (– 54 kg)
- Kehinde Aweda
- First Round — Lost to Khurshed Khasanov (Tajikstan), 10-20
Men's Featherweight (– 57 kg)
- Daniel Attah
- First Round — Defeated Lynch Ipera (Papua New Guinea), 14-2
- Second Round — Lost to Janos NagyJános NagyJános Nagy was a Hungarian diplomat, who served as Hungarian Ambassador to the United States between 1968 and 1971.-References:*...
(Hungary), 12-14
Men's Light Middleweight (– 71 kg)
- Albert Eromosele
- First Round — Lost to Serguei Gorodnychov, Ukraine, 4-18
Super Heavyweight (+ 91 kg)
- Duncan DokiwariDuncan DokiwariDuncan Dalnajeneso Danagogo Dokiwari is a Nigerian boxer. At the 1996 Summer Olympics he won a Men's Super Heavyweight bronze medal, together with Aleksey Lezin of Russia.-Background:...
→ (Bronze Medal) - First Round — Defeated Mohammad Resa (Iran), referee stopped contest in second round
- Second Round — Defeated Sifarish Khan (Pakistan), referee stopped contest in second round
- Quarter Finals — Defeated Adaliat Marnedov (Azerbaijan), referee stopped contest in third round
- Semi Finals — Lost to Paea Wolfgramm (Tonga), 6-7
TennisTennis at the 1996 Summer OlympicsAt the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, the host nation United States won 3 of the 4 gold medals in tennis. For the first time at the Olympics, a single bronze medal was awarded in each event.-Medal table:-Events:-References:*...
Men's Singles Competition:
- Sule LadipoSule LadipoSuleiman Ladipo is a male former tennis player from Nigeria, who turned professional in 1993. The right-hander represented his native country at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia, where he was defeated in the first round by Australia's Jason Stoltenberg...
- First round — Lost to Jason StoltenbergJason StoltenbergJason Stoltenberg is a former professional tennis player from Australia.Stoltenberg began playing tennis at age ten on an antbed court where his father owned a cotton farm in the Far West of New South Wales. In 1987, he won the boys' singles title at the Australian Open and was ranked the World No...
(Australia) in two sets: 6-7 3-6
See also
- Nigeria at the 1994 Commonwealth Games
- Nigeria at the 1998 Commonwealth Games