Japan's Ambassador Backs Nigeria's Olympic Baseball Bid

Hideo Suzuki, the Japanese Ambassador to Nigeria, expressed optimism regarding Nigeria's potential to qualify for the baseball event at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games. This statement was made during a reception for Shin’ya Tomonari, who was appointed as the head coach of the Nigeria National Baseball Team in June 2026.

Suzuki acknowledged the challenges of the qualification campaign, noting that Africa has only one slot for the Olympic baseball competition. He expressed hope that Tomonari would successfully lead Nigeria to qualification.

The ambassador highlighted Tomonari's efforts in promoting baseball across Africa, which have been supported by the Japanese Government’s “Sport for Tomorrow” programme aimed at fostering international sports cooperation. Suzuki reaffirmed Japan's commitment to sports development in Nigeria and emphasized the importance of strengthening sports exchanges between the two nations.

He also mentioned that ten Nigerian players are currently part of professional baseball teams in Japan.