# Nigeria at the 2004 Summer Olympics

Nigeria competed at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece, from 13 to 29 August 2004. This was the nation's thirteenth appearance at the Olympics, except the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal, because of the African boycott. Nigerian Olympic Committee sent a total of 72 athletes, 24 men and 48 women, to the Games to compete in 10 sports. For the first time in its Olympic history, Nigeria was represented by more female than male athletes. Women's basketball and women's football were the only team-based sports in which Nigeria had its representation at these Games. There was only a single competitor in men's freestyle wrestling.
Fifteen athletes from the Nigerian team had previously competed in Sydney, including five football players from the women's squad and Olympic silver medalist Enefiok Udo-Obong in the men's 4 × 400 m relay. At age 36, sprinter Mary Onyali-Omagbemi became the first Nigerian athlete to compete in fifth Olympic Games, while table tennis players Segun Toriola and Bose Kaffo followed Onyali's footsteps to fulfill their fourth Olympic bid in Athens. For being the oldest and most experienced athlete of the team, Onyali reprised her role to carry the Nigerian flag in the opening ceremony for the second time since 1996.
Nigeria left Athens with only two Olympic bronze medals, all from the men's 4 × 100 m relay (led by Deji Aliu) and 4 × 400 m relay teams (led by Udo-Obong).

## Medalists

| Medal | Name | Sport | Event | Date |
| Bronze | Deji Aliu Aaron Egbele Uchenna Emedolu Olusoji Fasuba | Athletics | Men's 4 × 100 m relay | August 28 |
| Bronze | Musa Audu James Godday Enefiok Udo-Obong Saul Weigopwa | Athletics | Men's 4 × 400 m relay | August 28 |

## Athletics

Nigerian athletes have so far achieved qualifying standards in the following athletics events (up to a maximum of 3 athletes in each event at the 'A' Standard, and 1 at the 'B' Standard).

### Key

* Note–Ranks given for track events are within the athlete's heat only
* Q = Qualified for the next round
* q = Qualified for the next round as a fastest loser or, in field events, by position without achieving the qualifying target
* NR = National record
* N/A = Round not applicable for the event
* Bye = Athlete not required to compete in round

### Men

| Athlete | Event | Heat | Heat | Quarterfinal | Quarterfinal | Semifinal | Semifinal | Final | Final |
| Athlete | Event | Result | Rank | Result | Rank | Result | Rank | Result | Rank |
| Deji Aliu | 100 m | 10.39 | 1 Q | 10.26 | 5 | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance |
| Uchenna Emedolu | 100 m | 10.22 | 2 Q | 10.15 | 3 Q | 10.35 | 8 | Did not advance | Did not advance |
| Saul Weigopwa | 400 m | 45.59 | 3 q | — | — | 45.67 | 6 | Did not advance | Did not advance |
| Deji Aliu Aaron Egbele Uchenna Emedolu Olusoji Fasuba | 4 × 100 m relay | 38.27 | 1 Q | — | — | — | — | 38.23 | |
| Musa Audu James Godday Enefiok Udo-Obong Saul Weigopwa | 4 × 400 m relay | 3:01.60 | 2 Q | — | — | — | — | 3:00.90 | |

### Women

| Athlete | Event | Heat | Heat | Quarterfinal | Quarterfinal | Semifinal | Semifinal | Final | Final |
| Athlete | Event | Result | Rank | Result | Rank | Result | Rank | Result | Rank |
| Mercy Nku | 100 m | 11.37 | 4 q | 11.39 | 5 | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance |
| Endurance Ojokolo | 100 m | 11.36 | 2 Q | 11.35 | 5 | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance |
| Mary Onyali-Omagbemi | 200 m | 23.37 | 6 q | 23.75 | 8 | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance |
| Gloria Kemasuode Mercy Nku Oludamola Osayomi Endurance Ojokolo | 4 × 100 m relay | 43.00 | 4 q | — | — | — | — | 43.42 | 7 |
| Christy Ekpukhon Halimat Ismaila Ngozi Cynthia Nwokocha Gloria Amuche Nwosu | 4 × 400 m relay | 3:30.78 | 8 | — | — | — | — | Did not advance | Did not advance |

## Basketball
### Women's tournament
#### Roster

The following is the Nigeria roster in the women's basketball tournament of the 2004 Summer Olympics.

#### Group play

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | L | PF | PA | PD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Australia | 5 | 5 | 0 | 418 | 313 | +105 | 10 | Quarterfinals |
| 2 | Russia | 5 | 4 | 1 | 389 | 333 | +56 | 9 | Quarterfinals |
| 3 | Brazil | 5 | 3 | 2 | 430 | 361 | +69 | 8 | Quarterfinals |
| 4 | Greece (H) | 5 | 2 | 3 | 353 | 392 | −39 | 7 | Quarterfinals |
| 5 | Japan | 5 | 1 | 4 | 381 | 485 | −104 | 6 | |
| 6 | Nigeria | 5 | 0 | 5 | 335 | 422 | −87 | 5 | |
* 14 August 2004 9:00
| Australia | 85–73 | Nigeria |
| Scoring by quarter: 20–18, 26–14, 16–12, 23–29 |||
| Pts: Batkovic, Taylor 11 Rebs: Batkovic 7 Asts: Fallon, Harrower 4 | | Pts: Udoka 26 Rebs: Amachree, Sadiq 8 Asts: Umoh 2 |
* Helliniko Indoor Arena, Athens Attendance: 302 Referees: Philippe Leemann (France) Valdu Suurkask (Estonia)
* 16 August 2004 11:15
| Nigeria | 73–79 | Japan |
| Scoring by quarter: 22–22, 24–23, 16–20, 11–14 |||
| Pts: Udoka 19 Rebs: Udoka 16 Asts: Four players 1 | | Pts: Yano 21 Rebs: Kusuda, Yano 6 Asts: Kusuda, Hamaguchi 4 |
* Olympic Indoor Hall, Athens Attendance: 400 Referees: Elizabeth Sisk (United States) Dallas Pickering (New Zealand)
* 18 August 2004 16:45
| Greece | 83–68 | Nigeria |
| Scoring by quarter: 30–15, 15–14, 20–15, 18–24 |||
| Pts: Kostaki 25 Rebs: Maltsi, Saregkou 8 Asts: Kostaki 4 | | Pts: Udoka 28 Rebs: Udoka 18 Asts: Amachree, Iyorhe 1 |
* Helliniko Indoor Arena, Athens Attendance: 2,300 Referees: Scott Butler (Australia) Nancy Ethier (Canada)
* 20 August 2004 22:15
| Nigeria | 63–82 | Brazil |
| Scoring by quarter: 19–33, 15–14, 12–11, 17–24 |||
| Pts: Udoka 17 Rebs: Udoka 7 Asts: Amachree, Udoka 2 | | Pts: Castro Marques 26 Rebs: de Souza 8 Asts: Castro Marques 6 |
* Helliniko Indoor Arena, Athens Attendance: 2,500 Referees: Mike Homsy (Canada) Song Yangping (China)
* 22 August 2004 11:15
| Nigeria | 58–93 | Russia |
| Scoring by quarter: 14–23, 17–20, 15–21, 12–29 |||
| Pts: Udoka 19 Rebs: Mohammed 8 Asts: Akiode, Umoh 3 | | Pts: Rakhmatulina 15 Rebs: Baranova 8 Asts: Karpova, Rakhmatulina 3 |
* Helliniko Indoor Arena, Athens Attendance: 382 Referees: Dallas Pickering (New Zealand) Shoko Suguro (Japan)

#### Classification match (11th–12th place)

* 24 August 2004 9:00
* 11th place
| Nigeria | 68–64 | South Korea |
| Scoring by quarter: 16–16, 13–16, 21–12, 18–20 |||
| Pts: Udoka 21 Rebs: Mohammed 13 Asts: Umoh 2 | | Pts: Kim Y. 19 Rebs: Lee M. 12 Asts: Lee M. 7 |
* Helliniko Indoor Arena, Athens Attendance: 155 Referees: Philippe Leemann (Switzerland) Chantal Julien (France)

## Boxing

Nigeria sent seven boxers to Athens. Five lost their first matches, while the other two made it to the quarterfinals (one with two wins, the other with a bye and a win) before being defeated.
| Athlete | Event | Round of 32 | Round of 16 | Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Final | Final |
| Athlete | Event | Opposition Result | Opposition Result | Opposition Result | Opposition Result | Opposition Result | Rank |
| Effiong Okon | Light flyweight | Pinto (ITA) L RSC | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance |
| Nestor Bolum | Bantamweight | Ngnitedem (GAB) W 23–17 | Prasad (IND) W RSC | Petchkoom (THA) L 14–29 | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance |
| Muideen Ganiyu | Featherweight | Bye | Ikgopoleng (BOT) W 25–16 | Kim S-G (PRK) L 11–32 | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance |
| Ahmed Sadiq | Lightweight | Kindelán (CUB) L RSC | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance |
| Isaac Ekpo | Light heavyweight | Haydarov (UZB) L 11–21 | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance |
| Emmanuel Izonritei | Heavyweight | — | Al Shami (SYR) L 17–30 | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance |
| Gbenga Oluokun | Super heavyweight | — | Cammarelle (ITA) L 13–29 | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance |

## Football
### Women's tournament

The Nigerian team qualified for the Olympics after defeating Ghana on penalties and edging South Africa in a two-leg playoff.

#### Roster

Head coach: Mabo Ismaila
Nigeria named a squad of 18 players and 4 alternates for the tournament.
| No. | Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club |
| 1 | 1GK | Precious Dede | (1980-01-18)18 January 1980 (aged 24) | 12 | 0 | Delta Queens |
| 2 | 3MF | Efioanwan Ekpo | (1984-01-25)25 January 1984 (aged 20) | 20 | 3 | Pelican Stars |
| 3 | 2DF | Felicia Eze | (1974-09-27)27 September 1974 (aged 29) | | | Delta Queens |
| 4 | 4FW | Perpetua Nkwocha | (1976-01-03)3 January 1976 (aged 28) | 30 | 10 | Pelican Stars |
| 5 | 3MF | Ajuma Ameh | (1984-12-01)1 December 1984 (aged 19) | | | Pelican Stars |
| 6 | 2DF | Faith Ikidi | (1987-02-28)28 February 1987 (aged 17) | 2 | 0 | Bayelsa Queens |
| 7 | 4FW | Stella Mbachu | (1978-04-16)16 April 1978 (aged 26) | 55 | 25 | Tianjin Teda F.C. |
| 8 | 3MF | Rita Nwadike (captain) | (1974-11-03)3 November 1974 (aged 29) | | | Rivers Angels |
| 9 | 4FW | Blessing Igbojionu | (1982-09-26)26 September 1982 (aged 21) | | | Pelican Stars |
| 10 | 4FW | Mercy Akide | (1975-08-26)26 August 1975 (aged 28) | 78 | 0 | Hampton Roads Piranhas |
| 11 | 4FW | Vera Okolo | (1985-01-05)5 January 1985 (aged 19) | 4 | 14 | Delta Queens |
| 12 | 2DF | Celestina Onyeka | (1984-07-15)15 July 1984 (aged 20) | | | Pelican Stars |
| 13 | 2DF | Yinka Kudaisi | (1975-08-25)25 August 1975 (aged 28) | | | Pelican Stars |
| 14 | 2DF | Akudo Sabi | (1986-11-17)17 November 1986 (aged 17) | 14 | 6 | Bayelsa Queens |
| 15 | 3MF | Maureen Mmadu | (1975-05-07)7 May 1975 (aged 29) | 68 | 0 | Amazon Grimstad |
| 16 | 4FW | Nkechi Egbe | (1978-02-05)5 February 1978 (aged 26) | 35 | 15 | Delta Queens |
| 17 | 2DF | Chima Nwosu | (1986-05-12)12 May 1986 (aged 18) | | | Inneh Queens |
| 18 | 1GK | Ogechi Onyinanya | (1985-05-26)26 May 1985 (aged 19) | | | Pelican Stars |

#### Group play

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Sweden | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 | Qualified for the quarterfinals |
| 2 | Nigeria | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 | Qualified for the quarterfinals |
| 3 | Japan | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | Qualified for the quarterfinals |

#### Quarterfinals
## Judo

Two Nigerian judoka (one man and one woman) qualified for the 2004 Summer Olympics.
| Athlete | Event | Round of 32 | Round of 16 | Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Repechage 1 | Repechage 2 | Repechage 3 | Final / BM | Final / BM |
| Athlete | Event | Opposition Result | Opposition Result | Opposition Result | Opposition Result | Opposition Result | Opposition Result | Opposition Result | Opposition Result | Rank |
| Chukwuemeka Onyemachi | Men's +100 kg | Hernandes (BRA) L 0000–0100 | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance |
| Catherine Ekuta | Women's −57 kg | Bye | Göldi (SUI) L 0000–1010 | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance |

## Swimming
### Men

| Athlete | Event | Heat | Heat | Semifinal | Semifinal | Final | Final |
| Athlete | Event | Time | Rank | Time | Rank | Time | Rank |
| Eric Williams | 100 m breaststroke | 1:07.69 | 53 | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance |

### Women

| Athlete | Event | Heat | Heat | Semifinal | Semifinal | Final | Final |
| Athlete | Event | Time | Rank | Time | Rank | Time | Rank |
| Lenient Obia | 100 m backstroke | 1:09.65 | 39 | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance |

## Table tennis

Eight Nigerian table tennis players qualified for the following events.

### Men

| Athlete | Event | Round 1 | Round 2 | Round 3 | Round 4 | Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Final / BM | Final / BM |
| Athlete | Event | Opposition Result | Opposition Result | Opposition Result | Opposition Result | Opposition Result | Opposition Result | Opposition Result | Rank |
| Monday Merotohun | Singles | Babunugu (COD) W 4–0 | Persson (SWE) L 1–4 | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance |
| Segun Toriola | Singles | Tabachnik (ARG) W 4–1 | Chila (FRA) L 2–4 | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance |
| Peter Akinlabi Kazeem Nosiru | Doubles | — | Papic / Rodríguez (CHI) W 4–1 | Maze / Tugwell (DEN) L 2–4 | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance |
| Monday Merotohun Segun Toriola | Doubles | — | Hazinski / Lupulesku (USA) L 0–4 | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance |

### Women

| Athlete | Event | Round 1 | Round 2 | Round 3 | Round 4 | Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Final / BM | Final / BM |
| Athlete | Event | Opposition Result | Opposition Result | Opposition Result | Opposition Result | Opposition Result | Opposition Result | Opposition Result | Rank |
| Cecilia Offiong | Singles | Silva (BRA) W 4–1 | Kim Y-M (PRK) L 0–4 | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance |
| Olufunke Oshonaike | Singles | Rodriguez (CHI) W 4–0 | Tóth (HUN) L 2–4 | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance |
| Offiong Edem Cecilia Offiong | Doubles | Bye | Bye | Fadeyeva / Melnik (RUS) L 3–4 | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance |
| Bose Kaffo Olufunke Oshonaike | Doubles | Bye | Bye | Stefanova / Tan Wl (ITA) L 3–4 | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance |

## Taekwondo

Three Nigerian taekwondo jin qualified for the following events.
| Athlete | Event | Round of 16 | Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Repechage 1 | Repechage 2 | Final / BM | Final / BM |
| Athlete | Event | Opposition Result | Opposition Result | Opposition Result | Opposition Result | Opposition Result | Opposition Result | Rank |
| Jacob Obiorah | Men's −80 kg | Hamdouni (TUN) L 11–16 | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance |
| Chika Chukwumerije | Men's +80 kg | Gentil (FRA) L 0–2 | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance |
| Princess Dudu | Women's +67 kg | Dawani (JOR) L 9–12 | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance |

## Weightlifting

Two Nigerian weightlifters qualified for the following events:
| Athlete | Event | Snatch | Snatch | Clean & Jerk | Clean & Jerk | Total | Rank |
| Athlete | Event | Result | Rank | Result | Rank | Total | Rank |
| Blessed Udoh | Women's −48 kg | 75 | =12 | 105 | =6 | 180 | 7 |
| Franca Gbodo | Women's −58 kg | 95 | =6 | 117.5 | =10 | 212.5 | 10 |

## Wrestling

Key:
* VT - Victory by Fall.
* PP - Decision by Points - the loser with technical points.
* PO - Decision by Points - the loser without technical points.

### Men's freestyle

| Athlete | Event | Elimination Pool | Elimination Pool | Elimination Pool | Quarterfinal | Semifinal | Final / BM | Final / BM |
| Athlete | Event | Opposition Result | Opposition Result | Rank | Opposition Result | Opposition Result | Opposition Result | Rank |
| Fred Jessey | −66 kg | Baek J-K (KOR) L 1–3 $^{PP}$ | Ikematsu (JPN) L 0–5 $^{VT}$ | 3 | Did not advance | Did not advance | Did not advance | 20 |