Yusuf Ali, the Head of Elite Athletes and Podium Board at the National Sports Commission (NSC), has expressed strong confidence that the Invited Junior Athletes (IJA) will be Nigeria's trump card at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games. The IJA programme was initiated by the NSC last year to identify and nurture young talents across the country.
Ali, a three-time Olympian who still holds the national long jump record of 8.27 meters set in 1989, emphasized that the IJA athletes are already making remarkable strides in national and international competitions. He noted that the Olympic Games require three to four years of preparation, and for the first time in a long while, the NSC has a clear roadmap for success.
Early Preparation and Government Support
Ali praised President Bola Tinubu for providing the NSC with the necessary resources to start preparations early. Before the last National Sports Festival in Abeokuta, the NSC launched the IJA programme, selecting promising athletes from various disciplines across Nigeria. These athletes are now making waves and are considered a major hope for the country at the 2028 Olympics.
Achievements of the IJA Programme
Highlighting the programme's impact within just one year, Ali pointed out that three IJA athletes—Ezechukwu Miracle, Rosemary Chigozie Nwankwo, and Obi Jennifer—were part of Team Nigeria at the World Relays in Botswana, where they secured four tickets to the World Championships. Additionally, four IJA athletes—Favour Cornelius, Ezenwa Esther Chidalu, Ezenwa Chinaza Cecilia, and Olarinoye Florence Oluwadamilare—competed at the 2026 Oceania Weightlifting Championships in Apia, Samoa, winning medals against over 500 elite athletes from more than 70 countries.
Age Advantage for 2028
Ali noted that most IJA athletes will be between 20 and 22 years old by the time of the 2028 Olympics, which he described as the ideal age for peak performance. He drew parallels with his own career, competing at the 1980 Moscow Olympics at age 19-20, placing ninth at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics at age 23-24, and finishing his Olympic journey at the 1988 Seoul Games at age 28. He also cited Usain Bolt, who won his first Olympic gold at age 22 in Beijing 2008, and American wrestler Amit Elor, who became the youngest American wrestler to win Olympic gold at age 20 in Paris 2024.
Comprehensive Support and Future Plans
Ali assured that the IJA athletes are actively involved in all Olympic teams, including athletics, boxing, weightlifting, table tennis, and more. The NSC is providing close monitoring and moral and financial support. Some athletes are already in camp for the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, while others are preparing for African and global championships. Ali expressed optimism that Nigerians will be proud of their achievements at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.
