Sports Extra
Round Up Of 2023 Big Sports Events And Records For Nigeria
2023 was a remarkable year for Nigerian sports, with athletes and teams achieving exceptional feats on local and international stages.
Among the big events is the emergence of two winners for the CAF Player of The Year awards. Victor Osimhen, a talented striker from Napoli, secured the men’s APOTY title, making him Nigeria’s first recipient since Nwankwo Kanu in 1999.
On the other hand, Asisat Oshoala, a forward for Barcelona Feminine, clinched the women’s APOTY award, extending her record. Additionally, Chiamaka Nnadozie, the goalkeeper for both the Super Falcons and Paris FC, was honoured as the Goalkeeper of The Year.
Furthermore, the outstanding performance of the Falcons at the Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand earned them the prestigious title of National Team of The Year.
Below is a roundup of some of the biggest sporting events that captivated the nation:
1. AFCON/WAFCON Qualifiers:
The Super Eagles soared to victory in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers, securing their spot in the prestigious continental tournament scheduled for 2024. Victor Osimhen‘s impressive goalscoring form and the team’s resolute defending were key to their success.
Both the Super Eagles and the Super Falcons secured their spots in the upcoming AFCON and WAFCON tournaments, respectively, Sportxparte reports.
Victor Osimhen emerged as the top scorer in the AFCON qualifiers, netting an impressive 10 goals, while Nigeria topped their group with a total of 15 points. Meanwhile, the Falcons earned their place in the tournament scheduled to take place in Morocco by defeating Cape Verde with an impressive aggregate score of 7-1.
2. National Sports Festival:
The 21st National Sports Festival, hosted in Asaba, Delta State, witnessed a display of athletic prowess from across the country. Team Delta topped the medals table, showcasing their dominance in various sporting disciplines.
3. World Athletics Championships: Tobi Amusan
Tobi Amusan etched her name in history books by becoming the first Nigerian to win a gold medal in the 100m hurdles at the World Athletics Championships in Oregon, USA. Her electrifying performance sent shockwaves through the sporting world.
Amusan, who had been provisionally suspended for three whereabouts test failures, received clearance from the Athletics Integrity Unit to participate in the World Athletics Championships in Budapest just two days before its commencement.
Despite this, she was unable to retain her title and finished fifth in the race, which was ultimately won by Danielle Williams from Jamaica.
4. Nigeria Basketball Premier League:
The 2023 edition of the NBBP league saw Kwara Falcons emerge as champions, defeating defending champions Rivers Hoopers in a thrilling final. The league witnessed intense competition and a surge in fan engagement.
5. Women’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier:
The Nigerian women’s cricket team made history by qualifying for the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup for the first time ever. Their impressive performance at the qualifiers in Zimbabwe showcased the growing talent and passion for the sport in the country.
Also, the emergence of young talents like Ishaq Usman (football), Favour Ofili (athletics), and Enoch Adegoke (boxing) promises an exciting future for Nigerian sports.
6. High-flying Falcons
Nigeria, although not the sole African nation to advance to the round of 16 in the 2023 Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, captured the admiration of fans worldwide through their spirited performance in a challenging group that included Olympic champions Canada, co-hosts Australia, and Northern Ireland.
Despite the odds, Randy Waldrum’s team remained undefeated with five points before ultimately being eliminated by England in the round of 16 after a penalty shootout.
7. Dominant D’Tigress
Approximately one month following the selection of Rena Wakama as the coach of D’Tigress, the Nigeria national women’s basketball team emerged victorious in the 2023 FIBA Women’s AfroBasket tournament on August 5. With a remarkable performance, they triumphed over Senegal with a score of 84-74, securing their fourth consecutive African title. This achievement serves as a remarkable comeback for the team, especially considering the internal conflict they faced, resulting in a ban imposed by the Federal Government, which prevented their participation in the 2022 World Cup.
8. Anthony Joshua Back And Strong
In 2023, Anthony Joshua demonstrated his potential to regain his status as the toast of the heavyweight division with back-to-back victories.
On August 12, he secured a knockout victory over Robert Helenius in the seventh round, showcasing his dominance in the ring. Prior to that, in April, Joshua triumphed over Jermaine Franklin through a unanimous decision.
Although he may not have completely silenced his critics, these wins marked a successful return to form for Joshua following his two defeats to Oleksandr Usyk in 2022.
9. Quadri retains African Title
In September, Quadri Aruna, the table tennis sensation from Nigeria, emerged victorious once again at the ITTF Africa Senior Championships.
In a thrilling men’s singles final held in Tunisia, Aruna showcased his exceptional skills and defeated Egypt’s Ahmed Saleh with a remarkable score of 4-0 (11-2, 12-10, 11-6, 11-6).
This triumph marked Aruna’s third continental title, solidifying his position as a dominant force in African table tennis. Notably, he had previously clinched the second title in Algeria last year after a nail-biting 4-3 victory against Egypt’s Omar Assar.
10. Enyimba in Ninth Heaven
Enyimba FC, the winners of the CAF Champions League twice, have established themselves as the most accomplished football team in the nation by securing their ninth Nigeria Premier Football League title in Lagos. The team, known as the People’s Elephant, secured the championship by surpassing Remo Stars with a superior goal difference in a highly competitive Super 6 tournament held in Lagos.
11. Men Cricket’s fairytale
In 2023, Nigeria witnessed remarkable progress in the field of cricket. The journey commenced with the victory of the women’s senior national team, known as the Female Yellow Greens, in the NCF T20i tournament held in Lagos.
Simultaneously, the male team, the Yellow Greens, achieved a resounding triumph by winning the inaugural West Africa Trophy in Lagos, maintaining a flawless record. Prior to this remarkable feat by the men’s team, Nigeria was chosen as one of the host countries for the prestigious ICC 2023 Cricket World Cup Trophy. The event spanned over two days, commencing in Abuja and culminating in Lagos.
