By Daily Sports on August 7, 2016
The non-arrival of Team Nigeria’s official ceremonial outfits in Rio de Janeiro, which ‘forced’ athletes to appear in tracksuits during the opening ceremony of the 2016 Olympics Games Friday, has sparked a controversy between top officials of the Nigeria Olympics Committee (NOC) and the sports ministry.
Team Nigeria members were to wear official attires during their parade at Maracana Stadium for the opening ceremony. But this did not happen.
Rather, the athletes came out in tracksuits, an appearance that took many sports-loving Nigerians by surprise. There were reports yesterday that the attires made for Team Nigeria for the opening ceremony could not make it to the Olympics Games venue in Rio.
While some Nigerians voiced their anger on various sports programmes on radio and television, other took to social media to express their disappointment. They call for immediate probe of the circumstances that led to the embarrassment.
Speaking with The Guardian yesterday, an official of the NOC claimed ignorance of the attires made for Team Nigeria for the opening ceremony.
However, The Guardian was able to get across to the NOC President, Engr. Habu Gumel, in Rio at about 2:30 p.m. (Nigerian time), and he responded by saying: “I am going into a meeting with the Honourable minister now. I will get back to you soon.”
Gumel never called back as he promised. He also refused to pick subsequent calls put across to him by The Guardian.
Meanwhile, the Senate President, Bukola Saraki has been reported to have called for investigation into the circumstances behind the Dream Team’s delayed departure from Atlanta to Brazil for the Rio Olympic Games.
•Photo shows Team Nigeria athletes during the opening ceremony of the 2016 Olympics Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Source Daily Sports
Posted August 7, 2016
You may also like...
'Falcons’ AWCON group easy'
Andy Murray: I don’t deserve a send-off like...
NFF wants support, not criticism for Rohr
Boniface out for several weeks
'I play 20 minutes' - Garnacho puts Man...
Anthony Joshua May Be Crowned Ajagungbade Of Yorubaland...

Oshoba, Ibeabuchi, Esepo lead 2026 FGM award nominees
Why I cried after first goal in Argentina’s 3-0 win over Algeria — Messi
Serena Williams suffered a straight-sets defeat in the Berlin Open doubles on Tuesday, hours after the confirmation of her return to Wimbledon to play alongside her older sister, Venus. Williams and Czech doubles partner Karolina Muchova fell to Mexico’s Giuliana Olmos and Erin Routliffe, of New Zealand, 6-4, 6-4. The duo lost the opening set after Williams was broken in her second service game. They were broken on Muchova’s serve midway through the second set and failed to find a way back into the contest.
W’Cup Olise, Barcola shine as Mbappé double powers France past Senegal in 3-1 thriller
W’Cup: Olise, Barcola shine as Mbappé double powers France past Senegal in 3-1 thriller
2026 FIFA WORLD CUP FINALS: Nigerian-Born Stars Dazzle in the US, Canada and Mexico
depoju picks best World Cup moment June 16, 2026 4:18 am
Uruguay frustrated by dogged Saudi Arabia in World Cup draw
Iran begin fraught World Cup with 2-2 New Zealand draw
Nigeria ranks 2nd among W’Cup absentees
Ndidi gets Saudi option amid Besiktas uncertainty
Otu siblings advance at CBN Senior Tennis Champs
Rangers International going, going . . . (63,877 views)
Amaju Pinnick: A cat with nine lives (55,203 views)
Second Term: Amaju Pinnick, Other NFF Heavyweights Home to Roost •How Pinnick Broke the Jinx (53,137 views)
Current issues in Nigerian sports: Matters arising (52,728 views)
Sports Development: Zenith Bank on the zenith (52,621 views)
Missing $150,000 IAAF Grant: Solomon Dalung’s Hide and Seek game (52,505 views)
Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje’s solid footprints, commitment to sports development in Kano State (52,367 views)
NFF Presidency: Pinnick, Maigari, Ogunjobi, Okoye in Battle for Supremacy (51,908 views)
Olopade, BET9A wave of revolution in NNL (51,100 views)
Commonwealth Games 2018: Shame of Muhammadu Buhari, Solomon Dalung (49,587 views)
Ibrahimovic’s Man U exit: Whose decision is it? And in whose interest? (48,045 views)
John Mikel Obi: Segun Odegbami’s Outrageous Call! (47,468 views)