The House of Representatives has passed a resolution to probe the abysmal performance of team Nigeria at the Paris 2024 Olympics, to forestall future occurrences.

According to the resolution passed on Thursday, the House expressed worry that none of the 82 athletes who represented the country, returned with a medal.

The lawmakers decried the huge budget of over ₦12bn for the event which yielded nothing.

The House also urged President Bola Tinubu to establish a commission of enquiry on sports arbitration in Nigeria.

The last time Nigeria did not win a medal at the Olympics was in 2012.

The minister of sports Development, Senator John Owan Enoh, has admonished Nigerian athletes to treat the upcoming African Championship in Cameroon as a perfect rehearsal for the Olympic Games in Paris.

Senator Enoh in a statement by his S A media, Diana Nsan stated following the Athletics Federation of Nigeria’s (AFN) announcement of a formidable list of 40 athletes that will represent the country at the African Championships in Douala.

Among notable names are Tobi Amusan, Favour Ofili, Chukwuebuka Enekwechi, and Chidi Okezie, some of Nigeria’s biggest stars heading to the competition.

The Minister emphasized the importance of this championship as a precursor to the Olympics, highlighting its role in preparing athletes for podium success at the world’s biggest sporting event in Paris.

“The African Athletics Championship should serve as a dress rehearsal for the Olympics,” Senator Enoh stated. “I charge all our flag bearers to represent the green and white flag with pride and aim to bring back the first position trophy at the end of the tournament.”

He also advised the athletes to be cautious about their diet and hydration, noting the significance of this Olympic year and the heightened scrutiny they will face.

“Knowing fully well the remarkable achievements you had in Ghana, I believe you can replicate and even surpass those feats. You have done it at the African Games, and you can do it again.”

Senator Enoh’s call to action is a motivational boost for the athletes as they prepare for the African Championships, with the eyes of the nation and the world upon them. The dedication and hard work of these athletes continue to inspire hope and pride among Nigerians.

Spain won the Women’s World Cup for the first time in their history with skipper Olga Carmona sweeping in the only goal for a deserved 1-0 victory over England in Sunday’s final.

In front of a crowd of nearly 76,000 at Stadium Australia in Sydney, Spain were the more accomplished side and had more chances, including missing a second-half penalty.

Spain’s triumph is vindication for Jorge Vilda and the Spanish football federation, who stuck with the coach even after 15 players last year said they no longer wanted to represent their country under him.

England coach Sarina Wiegman, who has now suffered back-to-back defeats in the final, and her European champions can have few complaints.

Spain are the fifth team to lift the World Cup since the tournament began in 1991, joining outgoing champions the United States, Germany, Norway and Japan.

In front of Spain’s Queen Letizia, defender Carmona scored what turned out to be the winner, rampaging from left-back to thrash the ball in low and hard on 29 minutes.

Wiegman had resisted the temptation to recall Chelsea attacker Lauren James after her two-match ban and kept faith with the team that beat co-hosts Australia 3-1 in the semi-finals.

Playing in their blue second kit, England had the first sniff of a chance in the fifth minute but Lauren Hemp shot weakly at goalkeeper Cata Coll.

There was little to choose between them in the opening exchanges before both teams had golden opportunities on the quarter-hour mark.

First, Manchester City forward Hemp struck the bar with a curler that had Coll well beaten.

Spain went up the other end and should have scored but Salma Paralluelo — in for Alexia Putellas — missed the ball in the six-yard box.

Then Alba Redondo hit a first-time strike straight at goalkeeper Mary Earps with the England goal gaping.

Hemp then had another tame effort saved, before the game was momentarily held up in the 24th minute when a spectator darted on to the pitch before being wrestled away by security.

Five minutes later Spain, who had never won a knockout game at the Women’s World Cup until this tournament and had lost 4-0 to Japan in the group phase, were ahead.

Spain’s forward #08 Mariona Caldentey (2L) and Spain’s midfielder #03 Teresa Abelleira (L) celebrate after Spain scored their first goal during the Australia and New Zealand 2023 Women’s World Cup final football match between Spain and England at Stadium Australia in Sydney on August 20, 2023. (Photo by Izhar KHAN / AFP)

Mariona Caldentey slid in an inch-perfect pass for Carmona, who came flying unmarked down the left before lashing the ball into the bottom corner.

Vilda, who recalled three of the 15 mutineers for the World Cup, did not even raise a smile on the sidelines.

England looked uncharacteristically rattled and the 19-year-old Barcelona attacker Paralluelo, who was a constant threat, shaved the post with the last kick of the half.

Wiegman, who suffered agony in the final four years ago when her Netherlands team lost 2-0 to the United States, made a double change at the break.

James and Chloe Kelly replaced Rachel Daly and Alessia Russo as Wiegman switched from a back-five to a flat back-four.

But it was Spain who nearly doubled their lead almost straight after half-time, Caldentey dinking inside and forcing Earps to turn the ball around the post.

Hemp was booked for clipping Laia Codina as England’s frustration mounted.

Midfield schemer Aitana Bonmati, who has been one of the players of the tournament and was one of the three refuseniks recalled by Vilda, fired narrowly over Earps’s bar.

With 20 minutes left, Spain were awarded a penalty when VAR was called into action and, after a long review, Keira Walsh was judged to have handled the ball in the box.

Jennifer Hermoso stepped up but her penalty was weak and Earps saved comfortably to keep England just about alive.

Officials indicated 13 minutes of injury time at the end, but if anything, it was Spain who looked the more likely to score as England’s dreams of a first World Cup melted away.