The past few months have proven to be eventful for Nigerian sports. A great deal of athletes participated in sporting events, on behalf of the green and white flag in various global competitions.
Following a number of negative restrictions on international competitions due to the pandemic, this country’s sports men and women have been eagerly awaiting their return to compete and make Nigeria proud with their athletic flair.
From as far as the bustling stages of the Tokyo Olympics to the courses of the Diamond League finals in Zurich as well as the fully stacked packed hall of the World Table Tennis championship in Houston. These Nigerian athletes did not just adhere to the beckoning sounds of the sports field. They came back to hear the sound of victory.
Promotion-Code Nigeria is happy to bring you the names of some of the best Nigerian athletes to look out for. These unsung heroes have represented Nigeria very well in recent events.
Blessing Oborududu
Blessing Oborududu took home the country’s best medal at Tokyo Olympics after picking up a silver in the women’s freestyle 68kg wrestling category.
32-year-old Oborududu achieved the accomplishment despite losing 4-1 to American wrestler, Tamyra Stock-Mensah in the final.
Oborududu was found eligible for the final after outwrestling Azerbaijan’s Elis Manolova and Kyrgyzstan’s Meerim Zhumanazarova in the following rounds.
Oborududu’s medal in Tokyo had made an historical feat as it was the country’s first-ever medal in wrestling at the Olympics.
Ese Brume
This stalwart athlete claimed victory for Nigeria’s only other medal at the Tokyo Olympics. This achievement was made subsequent to her clinching a bronze medal in the long jump event.
Brume was able to jump 6.97 meters, trailing behind world champion Malaika Mihambo, and Brittney Reese, who won gold.
Tobi Amusan
Tobi Amusan has been able to rise again despite a disheartening fourth-place finish at the Tokyo Olympics. However she has achieved a proud status of becoming Nigeria’s first athlete to win a World Athletics Diamond League trophy.
She clocked in at 12.42 seconds in the Diamond League final in Zurich to obtain the prestigious title.
Amusan set a new record against Gloria Alozie’s 23-year strong national record. Amusan achieved status by becoming Africa’s fastest-moving hurdler in the women’s category.
Aruna Quadri
Last year, Aruna Quadri cemented his status as the African continent championship table tennis player. Last year, he was able to break the African record twice on the ITTF rankings – 15th in September and 13th in November.
He is the first-ever African player to be able to enter the quarter-finals of the World Table Tennis championship.
Aruna beat Sweden’s Kristian Karlsson to achieve this proud status at the 2021 version of the championship that was hosted in the United States
Enoch Adegoke
Adegoke is the first Nigerian man who has been entered into the final of the 100 meters at the Olympics in more than two decades. The young man accomplished a 10.00 seconds sprint to finish second in heat 2 of the semi-final to smash the 25-year-old jinx.
Abiola Ogunbanwo
Teenage athletic sensation, Abiola Ogunbanwo, is the first Nigerian female to finish the women’s 100 meters freestyle swimming in less than a minute.
The young lady obtained a fresh personal best of 59.74 seconds in the second heat of the women’s 100 meters freestyle and beat an ongoing national record of 1:00.50 which was originally made by Ngozi Monu in 2007.
Udodi Onwuzurike
Udodi Onwuzurike struck gold at the men’s 200m at the 2021 World Athletics Under-20 Championships in Nairobi. Onwuzurike has become the first Nigerian to make this accomplishment since Francis Obikevent was victorious in the event in Sydney in 1996.
The promising teenager has also been titled to a new championship record with his 20.13 seconds sprint during the finals.
D’Tigress
Basketball favorites, D’Tigress were victorious champions of Africa for the third consecutive time in a row after crushing Mali 70-59. This took place during the final of the Afrobasket championship in Cameroon last year.
They have become the second team ever to claim such a title after Senegal won the tourney four times between 1974 and 1981.
Paul Onuachu
Sequel to a spectacular 2020 and 2021 season, where he laid claim to 33 goals in 38 league appearances, this Nigerian football player was hailed as the Belgian league player of the year.
His astounding goal-scoring capabilities lead him to win the league’s golden boot prize.
Kelechi Iheanacho
Kelechi Iheanacho’s exceptional skills while playing for Leicester City in 2021 has given him the nickname “Senior man Kelz” among football aficionados..
The 24-year-old’s fast-paced form in the year placed him at the top of being the European Premier League’s player of the month in March 2021.
Iheanacho was also a key player in the Foxes winning their initial English FA cup. He managed to score multiple goals paving the way to victory.
