It is impossible not to be in awe of the amazing moments that shaped Nigerian sports as 2023 slowly comes to an end.
This year, Nigerian sports had a mixed bag of results, with some athletes facing sanctions and the emergence of Victor Osimhen and Asisat Oshoala as the best male and female athletes in Africa.
The nation saw both successes and setbacks in basketball, football, and athletics that will live on in our memory for years to come.
Sporting Tribune takes a look at some of the most memorable sporting events that occurred in 2023.
Low points:
Bans on athletes
Due to the discovery of the banned drugs ostarine and ligandrol in her sample, Nigerian athlete Grace Nwokocha, who won gold in the 4x100m relay at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, was suspended for three years by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) in October.
Nwokocha tested positive for ostarine and ligandrol in a sample taken on August 3, 2022, according to the AIU.
A Nigerian sprinter who specializes in 100-meter races, Divine Oduduru, received a six-year ban from the AIU for anti-doping infractions.
‘Overwhelming evidence’ was presented by the AIU against the former world junior silver medalist. Oduduru, who was placed on temporary suspension on February 9, was connected to Blessing Okagbare, a teammate who was given an 11-year punishment for doping in 2022.
Head of the AIU, Brett Clothier, said this about the ban: “We are very pleased with the outcome of this matter, given its particularly grievous nature, exposing the sinister collusion between athletes and other persons in deliberate plans to corrupt athletics at the highest level.”
Enyimba’s handwritten jersey embarrassment
NPFL side Enyimba Football Club was in the news in October for the wrong reason, as their player, Innocent Gabriel, was seen wearing a disgraceful handwritten jersey number in their African Football League clash against Wydad Athletic Club in Uyo.
Social media users took to the poorly printed jersey, making it a trend and becoming viral. Millions of football fans condemned Enyimba Football Club management for demeaning Nigerian games.
Super Falcons, NFF wage saga
You may remember that a few players from the Super Falcons, who played for Nigeria in the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, complained about unfair treatment from the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).
The Super Falcons had threatened to boycott the World Cup before it even started because of unpaid salaries for staff and underpaid bonuses for players. Randy Waldrum, the coach of the Super Falcons, added that the NFF had not paid him in seven months.
Each Super Falcons player was owed $100 for each day they were in camp during the World Cup, $3,000 for each victory, and $1,500 for each loss, for a total of nearly $10,000 following the competition, according to a report by TheAthletic.
D’Tigers 2024 Olympics ouster
The hopes of Nigeria’s men’s basketball team, the D’Tigers, to qualify for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games were dashed.
The D’Tigers failed to qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics after their second consecutive defeat, 68-77, at the FIBA Pre-Olympic Qualifying.
Nigeria lost to Mali at the FIBA Pre-Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Lagos.
The loss proved costly for Nigeria as it meant that Nigeria’s men’s basketball team would not be appearing at next year’s Olympic Games scheduled in Paris, France, from July 26 to August 11.
High points
Osimhen’s exploits
Victor Osimhen crowned 2023 CAF Men’s Player of the Year
The remarkable exploits of Nigeria international and newly crowned African Footballer of the Year Victor Osimhen in 2023 cannot go unnoticed.
In December, Osimhen beat Morocco’s full-back Achraf Hakimi and Egypt’s striker Mohammed Salah. He was named the 2023 CAF Men’s Player of the Year after his heroic performance for the Super Eagles and Napoli. He made history by becoming the first Nigerian to win the men’s CAF Player of The Year award since Nwankwo Kanu in 1999.
Osimhen became the first Nigerian male player to be nominated for the coveted Ballon d’Or gong. He lost out to Lionel Messi, who bagged the award.
He became the first Nigerian to place in the top 10 in the Ballon d’Or voting with his eighth-place finish in the world.
The accolade concluded an incredible year for the formidable striker, who also led Nigeria to the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations with ten goals, making him the qualifiers’ top scorer.
The 24-year-old star of Napoli was playing for Parthenopeans last season, and he was instrumental in the team’s first Serie A championship in thirty-three years.
Osimhen bagged an incredible 31 goals in 39 matches across all competitions for Napoli last season and has continued his fantastic scoring record this campaign, as he has already netted seven goals in 13 games.
He scored 31 goals in all competitions last season and was crowned the Italian Footballers’ Association Player of the Year.
Oshoala emerges Africa’s best for sixth time
Asisat Oshoala of the Super Falcons and Barcelona was named the African Best Women’s Player of the Year Award for a record-tying sixth time.
Oshoala, a player for Barcelona Feminine, continued her record as the most decorated female player in Nigeria by winning the women’s APOTY.
Nnadozie’s heriocs and CAF Award
In December, Super Falcons goal-stopper Chiamaka Nnadozie made history when she won CAF Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year for 2023.
The excellent Nnadozie beat fellow goalkeepers, Andile Olaminii of South Africa and Moroccan stopper Khadija El-Rmichi.
After her incredible performance at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, particularly against Olympic champions Canada, where she made three saves, including stopping a penalty kick from Christine in the 50th minute, the 23-year-old was named the Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year.
Her efforts in the match won her Player of the Match honors and helped the Super Falcons to a goalless draw.
Nnadozie rose to stardom after becoming the youngest-ever goalkeeper at age 19 to keep a clean sheet in Nigeria’s 2-0 victory over Korea at the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup in France.
Courageous Super Falcons
The Nigerian women’s team won over supporters worldwide with their energetic performance, even though they were eliminated from the Women’s World Cup in the round of 16.
The Falcons finished undefeated with five points in a challenging group that includes Olympic winners Canada, co-hosts Australia, and Northern Ireland. Their incredible adventure came to an end against England in a penalty shootout.
Amusan cleared of doping allegations
In July 2023, World record holder in the women’s 100-meter hurdles, Tobi Amusan was accused by the AIU in July 2023 of skipping drug tests.
The 26-year-old had a great 2022 campaign and made history as the first Nigerian world champion in an athletics event when she took home the gold medal in the 100-meter hurdles at the 2022 World Championships.
Amusan also set a new world record in the semifinal with a time of 12.12 seconds and finished first in the final with a time of 12.06 seconds.
The two-time gold medallist at the Commonwealth Games denied using performance-enhancing drugs. Amusan claimed to be a clean athlete on Instagram.
“The AIU tests me on a regular basis—possibly more frequently than usual. I am confident that I will win this and that I will compete in August at the World Championships,” she said.
In August, the AIU cleared Amusan, saying a panel of the disciplinary tribunal, by majority decision, found that she had not “committed an anti-doping rule violation of three whereabouts failures within a 12-month period.”
She expressed joy over the finding. “I’m thrilled to put this behind me and look forward to defending my title at next week’s World Championships,” she said on Instagram.
Amusan was set to miss the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest but was able to defend her world title where she finished sixth in the final.
Enyimba’s 9th NPFL title win
Two-time CAF Champions League winners, Enyimba FC had cause to celebrate after winning their ninth Nigeria Premier Football League title.
They defeated Remo Stars in a closely contested Super 6 competition in Lagos to win the title.
Dominant D’Tigress
The Nigeria national women’s basketball team, known as D’Tigress, triumphed at the 2023 FIBA Women’s AfroBasket tournament. Under the guidance of coach Rena Wakama, they secured their fourth successive African title by defeating Senegal 84-74. This victory was a remarkable comeback for the team after being banned from participating in the 2022 World Cup due to an internal conflict.
Joshua’s dominant performances
Anthony Joshua, the former two-time unified heavyweight champion, defeated Swedish southpaw Otto Wallin in five rounds thanks to a commanding performance; after the fight, AJ said, “All I want to be is victorious for as long as I can.”
The Nigerian-born British boxer knew he had to win to maintain his hopes of fighting for another world title and to close the year on a positive note after victories over Jermaine Franklin and Robert Helenius earlier in the year.
The win over Wallin means Joshua has won three fights in 2023.
Quadri retains African title
Nigeria’s Aruna Quadri finally proved his superiority over Egypt’s Ahmed Saleh in the men’s singles championship match at the 2023 International Table Tennis Federation in Tunis, Tunisia.
The Nigerian won his second straight title by defeating the African No. 3 in four straight sets, following his victory over his most formidable opponent, Omar Assar, last year.
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