Nigeria makes 3rd consecutive appearance at Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics....

Nigeria will participate in the Winter Olympic Games for the third consecutive time as the Milano-Cortina 2026 Games get underway in Italy.

Tony Nezianya, Public Relations Officer of the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC), disclosed this on Saturday in Lagos in a statement made available to reporters.

According to Nezianya, Nigeria’s appearance at the Winter Olympics began in 2018 at the PyeongChang Games in South Korea, where the country made its debut.

At those Games, Nigeria was represented in bobsleigh by Seun Adigun and her two brakewomen, while Simidele Adeagbo competed in skeleton. Their participation attracted global attention and marked a new chapter in Nigeria’s sporting history.

The Milano-Cortina Winter Olympic Games are scheduled to run from Feb. 6 to Feb. 22 in Italy.

At the ongoing Games, Samuel Ikpefan will represent Nigeria in cross-country skiing, having previously competed at the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics.

Ikpefan, originally from Edo State, is based in France and trained in Switzerland ahead of the Games. He said he is better prepared than at his first Olympic outing in Beijing, citing experience gained from the 2022 Games.

Although realistic about his medal chances, Ikpefan expressed determination to deliver his best performance.

He is the sole Nigerian athlete competing at the Games.

Simidele Adeagbo, who competes in monobob and skeleton, failed to qualify after finishing 26th in the world rankings, with only athletes ranked between first and 25th approved by the International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation.

Kemi Obidahunsi, an NOC official accompanying Team Nigeria, confirmed that Ikpefan is the only Nigerian athlete qualified for the Games, adding that only eight African athletes across various disciplines are participating at the Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics.

NOC President Habu Ahmed Gumel is leading the Nigerian delegation.