Sports
2011: Another Year Of Disappointment For Nigerian Sports
There is no doubt that the year 2011 has slipped into the pages of history. But a glance across the landscape of Nigeria’s Sports would reveal a litany of woes and disappointments that have certainly raised more questions than answers.
From football, the nation’s ring of sports to the tracks, field events and other team sports, it was lamentations all over.
Off the field, it was also a case of poor performances by the authorities in charge of be Sports in the country.
Perhaps, most Nigerians would have passed dire judgment and termed him a prophet of doom if anybody had predicted that the nations Sports would have slided so low in the out gone year.
However, only a few events brought smiles and celebrations to Nigerians, the majority were indeed going tales of woes and agonies.
Among those that brought positive vibes to the nation included the triumph of the national U-20 team, flying Eagles in South Africa during the African youth championship, the delightful performance and final appearance of the national women’s youth team, falconets at the FIFA U-19 Women World Cup in Germany, where they lost to Germany after a gallant performance in the championship match.
Coach John Obuh and his Flying Eagles ruled Africa after warring a record sixth AYC title but fell short of expectation at the global stage. They rode on the back of the victory to the FIFA U-20 World Cup on Colombia only to falter at the quarter final stage, losing 3-2 to France. They were able to impress Nigerian fans and beyond with their emergy and style at the tournament.
The memorable 17th National Sports Festival, NSF hosted by the Rivers State government remained one of the shining lights of national sports events in the year under review.
The Garden City Games 2011 will no doubt linger in the minds of many Nigerians and others who beheld the spectacle that surrounded its arganisation, for a long time to come.
Over 15,000 athletes and officials from the 36 states of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) were believed to have featured in the two-week sports fiesta which began on June 27 and ended on July 11.
Apart from delivery an ultramodern Sports Stadium names, Adoriye Amilsimaka Stadium Complex, the 17th NSF brought the razzmatazz and panache associated with computer age sports events.
With the successful hosting f the Festival by the Rivers State government and the triumph of her athletes, the state has set the pace in the standard of hosting the National Sports festival, regarded as the biggest sporting event in the country.
Also, the third place finish of the country’s contingent to the 10th All Africa Games in Maputo, Mazambique behind winners, South Africa and Egypt was part of the positive notes of 2011. The country after a sluggish start only lost second position to Egypt by just a gold medal lose than the north Africans.
Among other sports that gave little to cheer include the Nigeria Basketball federation, NBBF, Athletic Federation of Nigeria, AFN and the Nigeria Scrabble Federation.
These federation managed to keep their heads above waters by devising means of keeping their athletes active and successful.
That is as far as the cheerful news goes while the bad and the ugly far out weigh the positives.
The biggest Catastrophe was in football where Nigeria’s Super Eagles, Super Falcons, Under 23 Olympic team and the administrators, especially, the Nigeria football federation and the Nigeria premier league board conspired to take the game several steps back into oblivion.
In one of the worst years of Nigerian football, the national teams stumbled from one defeat to another, especially, in the hands of eternal rivals, Ghana, who ended our hopes of participating in the football events of the forthcoming London Olympics and the All Africa Games.
The Ghanaians also stopped the falcons from being part of the 10th All Africa Games in Maputo.
Even the much heralded Samson Siasia, who was popularly engage in November 2010 as Super Eagle Coach amid huge expectations failed to qualify Nigeria for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations. He and his team failed to beat Ethiopia and Guinea and ensured that the Eagles will not be part of the African Mundial for the first time in 25 years.
Siasia was to be clamed by his failure in October after his employers decided to sack him.
The nationals U-23 team fared no better than their senior counterparts. Against huge expectations from Nigerians, the team and their handler, Austine Eguawen put up a poor performance at the inaugural CAF.
U-23 championship in Morocco to crash out of the London 2012 Olympic Games football event in November.
The Falcons had earlier blown their own chances in Yaounde, Cameroon when they failed to hold their nerve in a crucial Olympic qualifier against their Cameroon counterpart. It was the first time the Nigerian women will not be going to the Olympics.
Also in the year under review, Nigerian club performed poor in continental competitions. Though, two time African champions, Enyimba International FC and CAF confederation Cup debutants, Sunshine stars of Akure deserve some commendations for reaching the semi final stage of the CAF champions league and the confederation cup.
Domestically, the Nigeria premier league entered the record books as the 2010/2011 season dragged on for almost two years, following rancour and court proceedings by the NFF and NPL big wigs.
Dolphins FC eventually emerged champions, beating Sunshine Stars to the title on the last day.
But it is on record that the season ran without prize money and referees owed back log of indemnities.
Even the worries league was still without a title sponsor and prizes.
The year 2011, apart from being a very bad one for the country also claimed some of her illustrious athletes and personalities. The AFN, lost its technical Director, Mr. Sunday Bada, on Monday, December 12. Late Bada was a superintendent of the Nigeria police force and an Olympic Silver Medalist.
Earlier in April, the nation had mourned the tragic death of Super Eagles Olubaya Adefemi who died in an accident while on his way to Nigeria to finalise his wedding.
The nation also lost one of its stout administrators in the person of Alhaji Jamiu Tunde Ojulari, President, Youths Sports Federation of Nigeria (YSFON) after a brief illness.
While, every true Nigerian Sports lower will want to wish that the woeful performances and agonies of 2011 are not witnessed again in the country, it is time for the sports administrator at every level to wake up. Learn from the past and work toward making 2012 and beyond more positive and successful.
Brian Brobbey scored a dramatic 90th-minute winner as Sunderland came from behind to beat Newcastle United in a thrilling Tyne-Wear derby at St James’ Park.
Newcastle had been on target for their first home victory in this fixture since 2010 when Anthony Gordon gave the hosts a ninth-minute lead.
Sunderland played out from the back but defender Luke O’Nien’s pass was intercepted by Nick Woltemade and he gave it to Gordon, who did the rest to score his 17th goal of the season.
The hosts almost made it 2-0 just before the break, but Sven Botman headed against the post following a cross from left-back Lewis Hall, one of five Newcastle players to be included in Thomas Tuchel’s latest England squad.
Goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale, another called up by Tuchel, did not get great distance on a punch, the ball was played back into the box, Brobbey chested it goalwards and Dan Burn cleared off the line, only for Chemsdine Talbi to fire in the rebound.
Noah Sadiki had a chance to put Sunderland ahead, only for him to shoot at Ramsdale.
Yet it did not prove costly as Brobbey scored the late winner, to the delight of the away fans, when he converted a rebound from close range after Ramsdale saved his first attempt.
The result gives Sunderland their first league double over Newcastle since 2014-15.
Rangers International technical adviser Fidelis Ilechukwu has credited his recent stint with the Super Eagles under head coach Eric Chelle as a major factor behind the club’s resurgence in the Nigeria Premier Football League title race, Tidesports source reports.
Speaking ahead of Rangers’ matchday 31 fixture against El Kanemi Warriors in Enugu, Ilechukwu said the experience gained at international level has significantly influenced his approach, particularly in the areas of intensity, discipline and overall team structure.
“Change is constant in life. After working closely with Eric Chelle, the mentality I got from him is not an easy one. The training sessions are super intense, about 80 per cent of what we do now is heavy training,” he said.
Ilechukwu maintained that the discipline and structure he adopted during his time with the national team have translated directly into improved performances at the club level.
“I think my return has had a positive impact defensively, offensively, everything. The preparation, the pep talks, the quality, it gives confidence. I came back with an advantage,” he said.
Rangers have enjoyed a remarkable run since his return from the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, losing just once in 11 matches, with six wins, four draws and seven clean sheets propelling them firmly into contention.
They currently sit second on the table with 50 points, just one behind leaders Rivers United, with eight matches remaining in the season.
Despite their strong position, Ilechukwu insisted his side will not be weighed down by pressure as the title race intensifies.
“There is no different message, we don’t want to be under pressure because of the league. We take it one game after the other, after this game we talk about the next one,” he said.
He added that his players possess the necessary qualities to compete at the highest level.
“They understand what it takes to win. They have the attitude, the capacity, the character, and they understand what we want. To me, we are always ready,” he said.
While acknowledging the strength of Rivers United, Ilechukwu maintained that the title race remains open heading into the final stretch of the campaign.
“They are the strongest team, but you never can tell what will happen. We are also strong. In the remaining games, we will fight more and stay at the top of our game but without pressure,” he said.
Having guided Rangers to the NPFL title in the 2023/24 season, Ilechukwu is now aiming to secure his second league crown in three years as the Enugu side continue their pursuit of the title.
Odegbami described CAF’s decision to overturn the Jan. 18 final result as “bizarre, condemnable and unjustifiable.”
As reported by Tidesports source on Saturday, he noted that Senegal were crowned champions and celebrated globally before the verdict was reversed on technical grounds.
“It is unheard of in football history. You cannot take away a trophy won on the pitch two months after,” he said.
Odegbami said the decision had sparked outrage among football fans and stakeholders worldwide.
“This judgment has shaken CAF’s credibility. It is not surprising the world is up in arms,” he added.
The ex-Nigerian Football Legend questioned the motive behind the decision, describing it as risky and unpopular.
“What could have driven such a decision that undermines the spirit of the game?” he asked.
Odegbami said although football regulations may not cover every situation, rare cases require wisdom.
“This AFCON case demands that rules and common sense must align,” he said.
He recalled that Senegal were crowned by CAF and FIFA officials before a global audience.
“Two months later, CAF delivered what I call a ‘poisoned verdict’ through its Appeals Committee,” he said.
Odegbami explained that Morocco’s protest, earlier dismissed, was later upheld on appeal.
“The decision to reverse a final match result is one of the most unpopular ever,” he said..
He said the rules on walkouts are clear but must be applied with context.
According to him, Senegal players walked off after a late penalty was awarded to Morocco, staying away for 17 minutes.
“Ordinarily, that attracts forfeiture, but the referee allowed play to resume, which changed everything,” he said.
Odegbami noted that petitions can alter results but argued that the AFCON final was different.
“If this were a qualifier, nobody would question the CAF’s decision. But this was the final,” he said.
He stressed that the trophy had been awarded and celebrations concluded before the reversal.
“There was no room for post-match litigation in a final of this magnitude,” he said.
Odegbami maintained that the referee’s decision to restart play nullified the forfeiture clause.
“The match resumed, Morocco missed the penalty, Senegal scored and won fairly,” he said.
He insisted that CAF had no justification to overturn the result after recognising a winner.
“Punish any infractions if necessary, but do not tamper with a concluded final,” he said.
Odegbami urged CAF to review its regulations and restore Senegal as champions.
“For now, CAF should retrace its steps and return the trophy to Senegal,” he advised.
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