Former D’Tigers captain, Skambo Morrison has called for a shift in focus towards supporting a wider range of sports in Nigeria, emphasizing the need for sustained attention beyond just football.

Reflecting on Nigeria’s disappointing performance at the recently concluded Paris 2024 Games, Morrison highlighted the importance of consistent support for other sports.

“There are sports that are bigger than football. Football fills our heart everyday. Can’t we concentrate on other things going on?” Morrison questioned.

Super Eagles during a training session in Abuja.

He pointed out that despite the frequent declarations by sports ministers that they are not solely focused on football, the reality often contradicts those promises.

“Every minister that comes in announces that he’s not a minister of football, but they end up looking out for that particular thing.”

“Honestly, globally everybody wants his country to do well in football, but where are the medals coming from?”

Morrison also criticized the lack of proper preparation and financial support for athletes, drawing attention to how smaller countries like South Sudan and Botswana have started to achieve greater success on the global stage.

He urged for a deeper investigation into how resources are allocated to athletes, suggesting that transparency and proper investment could significantly improve Nigeria’s performance in various sports.

Minister of Sports Development, John Owan Enoh had a tour of the National Stadium Lagos. Photo | BRL

“It’s time to find out from athletes, wetin enter your hand? That’s the only way you can calculate this thing. They’ll come and tell us something unnecessary.”

“You know how much amount is this?, if an athlete got some kind of money where they’ll kill themselves to do the right thing.” Morrison concluded.

His comments underscore the growing need for Nigeria to diversify its sports development strategy, ensuring that all athletes receive the support they need to excel, not just those in football.