The Republic
Sports History

Since 1950 · Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), founded 1944

Athletics (Track & Field)

Nigeria's first international sport. Emmanuel Ifeajuna's 1954 Commonwealth high-jump gold in Vancouver was the first ever by a Black African at the Games. Athletics has produced more Olympic medals for Nigeria than any other sport apart from football.

  1. 1950

    British Empire Games, Auckland

    Host: New Zealand

    First Nigerian team at the Games — no medals.

    Body:
    Nigeria Olympic & British Empire Games Association

    Colony of Nigeria competed as a separate British team.

  2. 1954

    British Empire & Commonwealth Games, Vancouver

    Host: Canada

    Gold — High jump (Emmanuel Ifeajuna, 2.03 m) · Bronze — Long jump (Karim Olowu).

    Players:
    Emmanuel Ifeajuna, Karim Olowu, Nafiu Osagie
    Body:
    Nigeria Olympic & British Empire Games Association

    First-ever Commonwealth gold by a Black African athlete.

  3. 1964

    Tokyo Olympics

    Host: Japan

    Bronze — Boxing (Nojim Maiyegun, light-middleweight) and athletics relay finalists.

    Minister of Sport:
    Inuwa Wada (Minister of Defence & Sports oversight)
    Body:
    Nigeria Olympic Committee

    First Olympic medal of independent Nigeria.

  4. 1996

    Atlanta Olympics — 4×400m women

    Host: USA

    Silver, upgraded to Gold in 2008 (USA disqualified for doping). Final time 3:21.04.

    Players:
    Falilat Ogunkoya, Charity Opara, Bisi Afolabi, Fatima Yusuf
    Coach:
    Innocent Egbunike
    Minister of Sport:
    Jim Nwobodo (Sports)
    Body:
    AFN

    Same Games: Chioma Ajunwa long-jump gold (7.12 m) — first Nigerian individual Olympic gold ever.

  5. 2008

    Beijing Olympics — 4×100m women

    Host: China

    Bronze upgraded to Silver (2017) after Russia DQ.

    Players:
    Franca Idoko, Gloria Kemasuode, Halimat Ismaila, Damola Osayomi, Oludamola Osayomi
    Minister of Sport:
    Sani Ndanusa (Sports)
    Federal allocation:
    ₦11.3 bn — Ministry of Sports & Social Development, 2008 Appropriation Act
    Body:
    AFN
  6. 2024

    Paris Olympics

    Host: France

    No medals. Tobi Amusan reached 100m hurdles final (6th).

    Players:
    Tobi Amusan, Ese Brume, Favour Ofili, Rosemary Chukwuma
    Coach:
    Sunday Adeleye (head coach AFN)
    Minister of Sport:
    John Owan Enoh (Sports Development)
    Federal allocation:
    ₦62.9 bn — Ministry of Sports Development, 2024 Appropriation Act
    Body:
    AFN