The abysmal performance of team Nigeria at the Paris Olympics has been attributed to the absence of Psychologists in the team.

Professor Clement Fasan made this known at the Annual National Conference of the Sports Psychologists Association of Nigeria, SPAN held at the National Institute in Lagos on Wednesday, August 15.

He stressed that Nigeria would have performed better if a Sports psychologist had been attached to the team.

Speaking under the theme: Optimizing Athletes Performance and Wellbeing: Challenges for Sports Stakeholders in the 21st Century, Professor Fasan said "We cannot talk of optimizing athletes performance without their well-being or welfare.

Athletes are fragile and have expiring dates. They are susceptible to injury which can be vital and cut short their career. We must develop programs and incentive methodologies to cater to their well-being and welfare. Without the help of a Psychologist, the athletes can't achieve much”

Adding his voice to the conversation, Professor Seun Omotayo said "Both success and failure need to be managed."

Tobi Amusan's failure was due to a lack of Psychological management. Sports is scientific without which talent and technique would not count for much. Coaching is an integral part of coaching philosophy.

In his remarks, Director-General National Institute for Sports Professor Olawale Moronkola said the event is coming at a most auspicious time when Nigerian Sports is under scrutiny due to the poor performance in Paris.

Nigeria failed to pick a medal at the just concluded games in Paris.