Nigeria did not, however, make the medals table at the Games which had 205 countries participating.
ECOWAS’ permanent observer to the United Nations spoke on the promise of democratic consolidation in West Africa at the University of Massachusetts’ sixth Africa Day.
The remaining Olympic slots will be decided on May 9 to 12 at the 2024 World Qualification Tournament in Istanbul, Turkey.
The team had already announced its forfeiture of the 2025 FIBA AfroBasket qualifiers scheduled to begin in Tunisia on Friday over a lack of funds from the Bola Tinubu-led government.
It is not the first time that paucity of funds has threatened the D’Tigers’ participation in a major basketball tournament.
“The semi-final match will be different against Nigeria, which has good players like (Ademola) Lookman.”
Nigeria and South Africa have met 15 times in competitive football since 1992.
Nigeria are now the highest-ranked team in the tournament.
“Football always brings peace.’’
Four-time champions Ghana and 2019 champions Algeria were all bundled out by less fancied opponents.
