Since the beginning of 2018, the Nigeria’s sports teams have participated in various sporting competitions across the globe. The competitions which include the FIFA World Cup, the winter Olympics, 2018 FIBA Women’s World Cup and the African Women Championship among others have seen Nigerian athletes take centre stage.
With about one week to the turn of the year, here are the highlights of Nigeria’s sportsmen and women that excelled in their chosen sport internationally.
1.Nigeria’s amputee Eagles: The nation’s amputee football team finally marked their appearance at the 2018 World Cup in Mexico. Previously, the team failed to participate in three previous editions of the Amputee World Cup but were fortunate to mark the debut in Group D alongside Russia, El Salvador and Brazil.
2. Bobsled and Skeleton team: Nigeria’s Bobsled and Skeleton team otherwise known as Ice blazers made up of the quartet of Ngozi Onwumere, Akuoma Omeoga, Seun Adigun and Simi Adeagbo created a new identity for the country after flying Nigeria’s flag at the winter Olympics for the first time. Despite finishing 19th out of the 20 countries that participated at the winter Olympics, they have played their role in furthering sport development in the country.
3. Aruna Quadri and Men’s Table Tennis team: Aruna Quadri has had an outstanding 2018 after impressing with Nigeria’s Men’s Table Tennis Team. At the 2018 Commonwealth Games, Quadri alongside Segun Toriola, Bode Abiodun and Olajide Omotayo surprised the world after seeing off England in the semis. They gave their best in the final contest against India, but their effort could only hand them a silver medal at the end of the tournament. Going forward, Quadri and his colleagues improved their performance at the 2018 ITTF Africa Cup where they toppled Egypt in four sets to claim the Gold medal.
4. D’Tigress Africa’s basketball champions: ‘Tigress was on top of their game during the 2018 FIBA Women’s World Cup Spain. Although they lost their opening game against Australia, they ended up putting their names in the record books of the tournament. At the last count, aside from being the first African team to win a game at the world championship, the Evelyn Akhator led D’Tigress side made its three wins before their defeat to eventual winners USA in the quarter final. A performance that saw Nigeria emerge the first African side that will move from 34th to 15th in FIBA’s latest world rankings.
5. Super Falcons: The Super Falcons won the 2018 Africa Women’s Cup of Nations (AWCON) for a record 9th time to remain Africa’s best women’s team. The win ensured Nigeria will be representing Africa in next year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup in France. Despite the initial setback the fans will be looking forward to a better show in the New Year.
6 Super Sand Eagles: The Super Sand Eagles became the first team to book a spot for next year’s FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup in Paraguay on Wednesday, December 12. The encounter saw Abu Azeez score four times to see off host, Egypt 7-6 in the semi-finals clash at the ongoing CAF Beach Soccer Africa Cup of Nations 2018 in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt. The Sand Eagles will be making a sixth FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup appearance when hostilities commence in Paraguay next year.
7. Special sports (Para weightlifters): Para weightlifters have contributed immensely to Nigeria’s final placing at major sporting championship over the years and the 2018 Commonwealth Games was no exception. Roland Ezuruike and Paul Kehinde claimed gold and silver in the Men’s event while women’s heavyweight champ Ndidi Nwosu along Esther Oyema (gold) and Lucy Ejike (silver) ensured Nigeria made a total sweep of medals at the 2018 Commonwealth Games. No doubt their medal haul helped Nigeria’s final placement at the end of the tournament.
8 Tobi Amusan (Athletics): Amusan started the year on a winning note after making the final of the 60m Hurdles after beating reigning World Champion Sally Pearson in the semis of the World Indoor Championships. And at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Tobi surprised Jamaica’s 2015 World Champ, Danielle Williams to win the 100m Hurdles, a season Best of 12.68secs, which was three seconds short of the Games record of 12.65secs. At the end of the Games, Tobi emerged the first Nigerian to leave Gold Coast win two medals after her gold medal in the 100m Hurdles and a bronze medal in the 4x100m.
9 Odunayo Adekuoroye (Wrestling): Adekuoroye claimed her second Commonwealth gold medal at Gold Coast 2018. A veteran in female freestyle, wrestler Adekuoroye has represented Nigeria in major sporting events over the years. The 23-year-old participated and won first goal at the 2014 Commonwealth Games. In 2015, she claimed a bronze at the World Wrestling Championships, as she emerged one of Nigeria’s biggest stars in women’s wrestling. In 2016, Adekuoroye won a silver medal at the World Wrestling Championships in Paris, missing the gold by the whiskers.
10. Super Eagles: The Super Eagles was among Africa’s representatives at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia and at the Nations’ Cup. The tournament which was one of the major sporting event of the year saw Nigeria bow out after the group games. However, few months after the disappointment of the mundial in Russia, the Gernot Rohr tutored-side have qualified for next year’s African Cup of Nations after missing the last two editions.
