Can Nigeria relive the Dream Team glory?

When the Dream Team won a gold medal in Atlanta ’96; Nigeria sat pretty on the football map of the world for years after that. This feat won the likes of Kanu Nwankwo, Tijani Babangida, Daniel Amokachi and Jay-Jay Okocha worldwide acclaim and fame. Chioma Ajunwa also picked up a gold medal in the long jump category.

That year, Nigeria surprised the world by overcoming much stronger teams, such as Spain and Brazil to earn the gold.

After the Olympic gold win by the U-23 football team in Atlanta in 1996, Nigeria’s Men’s 4×400 metre relay team comprising of Nduka Awazie, Fidelis Gadzama, Clement Chukwu, Jude Monye, Sunday Bada and Enefiok Udo-Obong won gold at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

Nigerian athletes have won a total of 23 medals, mostly in athletics and boxing.

Names like Fatima Yusuf, Charity Opara, Falilat Ogunkoya, Mary Onyali, Duncan Dokiwari, Glory Alozie, Olusoji Fasuba, Uchenna Emedolu, Aaron Egbele, Deji Aliu, Blessing Okagbare and Chika Chukwumerije have become synonymous with this 64-year-old sporting event.

The Olympics have always drawn television viewing attention especially in Nigeria with over 70 million viewers on both terrestrial and satellite TV. The 2016 Rio Summer Olympics holding between August 5th to August 21st wouldn’t be an exception.

The most-watched games likely to pull the largest crowd of viewers are the track and field events which will run as follows. The Olympic football matches will begin on August 4 and end on August 20 with the finals. The women’s 100m final begin on August 13 while the men’s 100m finals will begin August 14. The men’s 200m final is August 18 and the women’s is on August 17. The men’s 4 × 100 m relay final is Friday 19 August.

Can the Nigerian Dream Team with the likes of Alex Iwobi, Kelechi Ihenacho, Ahmed Musa and Mikel Obi, make Nigeria proud again? Can they console Nigerians after the ouster of the Super Eagles from the Nations cup? Nigerians will be glued to their TV to see if Siasia can relieve the glory of the Dream Team.

As the world watches, brands in Nigeria and truly Nigerian brands can take advantage to showcase their products through a myriad of channels.
In this regard, brands in Nigeria can get a boost for their business by participating in these events – by way of advertising, branding or sponsoring athletes. Most brands are set to benefit from the Olympiad because of the wide attention the games would receive. Really, what better platform is there to express a brand’s USP?