Nigeria is one of the most athletically competitive countries in the world. Each year, local athletes jet-set to compete in some of the world’s most difficult and demanding sports leagues. For example, Wilfred Ndidi and Kelechi Iheanacho both compete in the Premier League, while Odaje Jayson Oweh and Osa Odighizuwa both entered the US’s NFL this year.
Aside from being competitive athletes in nearly every discipline, Nigerians are also major sports fans. In addition to attending live matches and catching live events online, many also leverage their interest in online gaming into betting. Though most people visit a site like a legal online casino in Canada for slots or roulette, it’s just as common to check out an online sportsbook.
For the most part, locals who bet on their favourite players will be following leagues outside the country. And though many locals follow Nigerian players as they launch their careers abroad, there are also plenty of local and international events that see Nigerians of all stripes band together to cheer on their national side.
This year, some of the most important international events were the Olympics, Paralympics, and CAF World Cup Qualifiers. Let’s take a closer look at Nigeria’s performance and how the Super Eagles are expected to fare in next year’s 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Olympics Golds & Defeats for Nigeria
Heading into the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, athletes from across the globe faced uncertainty. For Nigerian Olympians, this led to a slow start. There were mix-ups related to scheduling and testing, as well as a false start in a track and field even that left many heartbroken.
However, Nigeria finished the Olympics with its best performance in terms of medal tally in the last decade. Nigeria’s Blessing Oborududu won a silver medal in women’s 68kg freestyle wrestling, while Ese Brume nabbed a bronze medal in the long jump event.
Looking ahead, Nigeria will likely continue the inaugural ‘Adopt an Athlete’ campaign, which allowed private and corporate sponsors to help fund and provide resources to 22 Nigerian Olympic athletes.
Paralympic Dreams
The Nigerian Olympic team may have had a slow start, but the country’s Paralympic sector took home a total of ten medals; four gold, one silver, and five bronzes. The team’s performance was especially encouraging for athletes, as most will go on to compete in next year’s Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, UK.
However, it was also a watershed year in terms of funding. The Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, which helped spearhead the ‘Adopt an Athlete’ campaign, created a bonus system for Paralympic competitors, which included financial compensation for their athletic skill.
FIFA, CAF, & the Aisha Buhari Cup
Though one of the biggest events of the year for Nigerian sports fans was the CAF Qualifiers, there was just as much happening behind closed doors. Amaju Pinnick, former president of the Nigeria Football Federation, was elected as a member of the FIFA governing body in spring.
Pinnick will now be able to represent Nigerian and West African interests with football’s global governing body. At home, the inaugural Aisha Buhari Cup also helped kickstart the promotion of women’s football in the country, which will be prioritized in the coming years.
However, most local football fans were paying attention to the Super Eagles’ progress in CAF Qualifiers. Unsurprisingly, the team managed to firm up their place for the third leg of qualifiers after a 1-1 draw to the Ivory Coast in late November.
Prior to the CAF Qualifiers, many wondered if the head coach would be able to leverage this year’s available roster. As mentioned above, most Super Eagles compete in domestic leagues around the world, which can make scheduling (and training) incredibly difficult.
So far, it looks like the new coach will lean on senior talents like Odion Ighalo and Victor Osimhen, both who have ample experience in top-tier leagues around the world. However, it’s uncertain whether the Super Eagles will be able to best their Round of 16 finishes from previous World Cup competitions.
