2023 was a year of dichotomies for Nigerian sports, a tapestry woven with threads of brilliance and disappointment, moments of national pride and head-scratching setbacks. From the historic achievements of Victor Osimhen and Asisat Oshoala to the doping controversies that clouded athletics and the underwhelming performances of the Super Eagles, Nigerian sports experienced stark contrasts in fortunes in 2023. Yet, amidst the highs and lows, one thing remained constant: the indomitable spirit of Nigerian athletes shone brightly.
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Football: A Tale of Two Teams
Football, the nation’s lifeblood, presented a tale of two halves. The men’s team, the Super Eagles, faced an uninspiring year under Portuguese head coach Jose Peseiro, winning just four of eight matches and suffering a shock defeat to Guinea Bissau in Abuja. Despite rallying to secure qualification for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), the team’s performances were underwhelming all through the year, with draws against minnows like Lesotho and Zimbabwe in their 2026 World Cup qualifying matches raising concerns the Super Eagles could miss out on the finals for a second time running.
Yet, amidst the gloom, a flicker of hope emerged with the rise of young talents like Bayer Leverkusen’s Victor Boniface and Gent’s Gift Orban, showcasing Nigeria’s rich talent pool. However, Nigeria’s unconvincing performances, marked by a lack of attacking spark and shocking defensive errors, have left fans sceptical about their chances of achieving a fourth continental title next year in the Ivory Coast.
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Falcons Soar As Eagles Flounder
In stark contrast, the women’s team, the Super Falcons, rose from the ashes to silence doubters and reclaim a bit of pride for Nigerian football. After their underwhelming performance at the 2022 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), where they finished a disappointing fourth, many wrote them off. But the Falcons silenced their detractors with a stunning run at the FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia.
Emerging undefeated from a tough group that included Olympic champions Canada and co-hosts Australia, the Falcons reached the knockouts for just the third time in their history, losing to eventual finalists England via the lottery of penalty kicks. Randy Waldrum’s team silenced their critics, their spirit embodied by Chiamaka Nnadozie, whose heroic performances, including a crucial save from the spot in their opener against Canada, earned her the Goalkeeper of the Year award, while the team’s collective spirit earned them the National Team of the Year title at the 2023 CAF Awards.
The Super Falcons’ indomitable spirit shone at the World Cup, and they now channel that momentum into their fight for a place at the 2024 Paris Olympics. This quest holds immense significance, as it represents a chance to end a run of three consecutive Olympic misses (London 2012, Rio 2016, Tokyo 2020) and bring immense joy to fans.
However, beyond the contrasting performances of the national teams, Nigerian football witnessed a litany of failures. The U23 and CHAN Eagles missed out on Olympic qualification and the 2023 African Nations Championship, respectively, and both U17 and U20 teams faltered on the international stage.
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Individual Brilliance Amidst Team Struggles
While the collective efforts of some of the nation’s national teams faltered, individual brilliance shone brightly. Victor Osimhen’s goals propelled Napoli to their first Serie A title in over 30 years, earning him the Golden Boot and the prestigious CAF Men’s Player of the Year award – a feat not achieved by a Nigerian since Kanu Nwankwo in 1999. Asisat Oshoala, the undisputed queen of African football, solidified her reign with a record-extending sixth CAF Women’s Player of the Year. These individual triumphs offered spots of joy for many Nigerians amidst team struggles.
Basketball: A Rollercoaster Ride
After its meteoric rise in recent years, Nigerian basketball experienced a year of regression in 2023. The D’Tigers, missing the guiding hand of Coach Mike Brown, failed to qualify for the World Cup or the Paris Olympics. However, the D’Tigress, defying adversity, emerged victorious at the Afrobasket tournament, claiming a record-equalling fourth consecutive title against all odds. Their triumph, achieved under a hastily assembled team led by rookie coach Rena Wakama, showcased the unwavering spirit of Nigerian athletes.
Athletics: From Stardom to Shadows
The year brought disappointment in athletics, a sport Nigeria once had revelled in global glory. Tobi Amusan’s world record and Ese Brume’s World Championship medal in 2022 had ignited hope, but a series of doping scandals overshadowed the sport in 2023. Grace Nwokocha and Divine Oduduru received lengthy bans for doping violations, and even Amusan was charged with a whereabouts doping violation, provisionally banned, before being cleared to compete at the World Championships. The series of incidents that occurred had a negative impact on the reputation of Nigerian athletics. The disruption wrought by her provisional suspension was also considered a major reason Amusan failed to defend her world title in Budapest, where she came a distant sixth in the women’s 100m hurdles.
Budapest also marked the first time since 2017 that Nigeria failed to secure a single medal at the World Championships. While Amusan recovered to claim a third Diamond League title in September, the Athletic Integrity Unit’s appeal against her clearance of anti-doping violations has created further uncertainty for the 27-year-old and Nigerian athletics in general, with the African Games and the Paris Olympic Games scheduled for 2024. These setbacks highlight the need for a renewed focus on anti-doping measures and athlete development.
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Beyond the Big Three: Bright Spots in Other Sports
Thankfully, some sports offered Nigerians solace in 2023. Cricket, often overshadowed by other sports, enjoyed a year of quiet progress. Nigeria hosted the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup trophy, showcasing its growing stature in the international arena. The men’s and women’s national teams also achieved record highs in their ICC rankings. Nigeria also bagged the ICC’s Global Award for the Best Female Cricket Initiative of the Year on the back of significant results obtained from delivering cricket programmes in Zamfara state, a region in the north-west of the country where several barriers exist preventing women from participating in sport.
Wrestling witnessed Odunayo Adekuoroye’s bronze at the World Championships in Belgrade and, with it, a place at the Paris Games. World number two female wrestler and the first to win an Olympic medal representing Nigeria at the Olympics, Blessing Oborodudu, claimed a record 12th African Championship title in Hammamet, highlighting her dominance in the sport. Boxing also saw a revival, with three boxers qualifying for the Paris Olympics, the first time Nigeria will be represented in the sport since 2016.
A Year of Lessons and Opportunities
2023 was a year of contradictions for Nigerian sports. While some national teams and athletes stumbled, others soared to unprecedented heights. Victor Osimhen and Asisat Oshoala’s CAF awards, the Super Falcons’ World Cup exploits, D’Tigress’ Afrobasket victory, and the successes in cricket, wrestling, and boxing showcased the country’s diverse sporting potential.
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Nevertheless, the struggles of the Super Eagles and other age-grade teams, the challenges in athletics, and the doping controversies serve as reminders of the need for constant improvement. As 2024 beckons, the lessons learned from the highs and lows of 2023 will be crucial in shaping the future of Nigerian sports. With a jam-packed calendar of major tournaments, including the Men’s and Women’s AFCONs, the African Games, the Commonwealth Games, and the Paris Olympics, there will be ample opportunities for Nigerian sportsmen and women to write many more captivating chapters in the nation’s sporting saga and put smiles on the faces of Nigerians.