Connect with us

Sports

Sports In Nigeria In 2020: A Retrospect

Published

on

OTHER SPORTS
In other sports such as table tennis, Nigeria made two attempts to qualify for her maiden outing at the Olympic Games. After losing the sole continental slot to Egypt at the 2019 African Games, Nigeria competed at the World Team Qualifying Tournament in Gondomar, Portugal but narrowly lost to Poland in the second round of the tournament, leaving Egypt as the only African team competing in the team event of Tokyo Games.
The country also made impact in boxing directly and indirectly. Few weeks after Nigerian born Briton, Anthony Joshua beat Pulev to retain his world titles, a full blooded Nigerian, Ridwan Oyekola emerged the new world Boxing Federation Super Featherweight champion by beating his Argentine opponent in Ibadan, Nigeria.
SPORTS POLICIES
The year 2020 witnessed two key policies from the Federal Ministry of Sports and Social Development, which if implemented effectively, have the potential to take the sector to another level. The first is the Adoption Campaign, an initiative that is aimed at attracting more funding for the development of sports in the country. Through the “adoption campaign”, the hope is that decaying sports facilities will be revived, and athletes will be properly nurtured into world beaters.
During the launch of the ”Adopt An Athlete Initiative”, in Lagos, the Sports Minister, Sunday Dare noted that the sports sector has what it takes to massively contribute to the country’s economy.
The campaign is calling on private individuals and corporate organisations to pick an athlete or a team and sponsor them to greater heights.
“The hope of the athlete is to be at the Olympics, or the World Championship for their sport; to stand on the podium, and fly their country’s flag. They want to be the reasons why Nigeria’s flag should be hoisted and the national anthem is sung while the world watches.
“This is their reward; but it is also our honour and prestige, and pride among nations. It is this hope that drives them to invest in themselves, to work hard, to endure all odds, and try to surmount every challenge.
“The Adoption Programme is our baby, all of us. By it, we hope to change the narrative about sports in Nigeria. While what we are doing here tonight has the feel of a pilot programme to it, we are hard at work to institutionalise frameworks that will ensure that individuals and corporate organisations get value for whatever they put in sports.
Another is the 2020 National Sports Industry Policy (NSIP), which is still at the draft stage. The NSIP is aimed at leveraging Nigeria’s remarkable sporting talent, passion, interest and excellence to advance and navigate diplomatic relations, and more importantly, generate employment, create jobs, increase government revenue and bolster the economy. It has its objectives to promote national unity, ensure good governance, effective regulation and efficient administration of sports. Others include, to improve sporting officiating and participation to world class standards, institution and maintenance of efficient sport-specific dispute resolution mechanisms, promote public/Private sector engagement to engrave sports as an important driver and contributor to the national economy and to ensure utilization of ICT.
DEATHS WITHIN THE SPORTS CIRCLE
Several deaths were recorded in the country within the year under review.
Some personalities within the sports circles lost their lives and would not be around to see what this year has to offer.
Ajibade Babalade
The former Super Eagles defender died on September 4 in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
Babalade, 48, took ill a day before his death and was taken to the University College Hospital Ibadan where he passed away.
The hard-tackling retired defender was part of the Super Eagles squad to the 1992 Africa Cup of Nations in Senegal where the national team won the bronze.
Chineme Martins
The death of the 23-year-old was quite painful as many believe it was one that was avoidable if the minimum health facilities were in place on the day of his demise at the Lafia Township Stadium.
The Nasarawa United defender died on March 8 during a Nigeria Professional Football League game.
Martins fell unconscious during the second half of Nasarawa’s league match against Katsina United.
Martins’ death was the second time fans in Lafia witnessed a tragedy in recent years.
In December 2018, Kano Pillars’ star Dominic Dukudod collapsed while warming up in a friendly against Nasarawa United.
John Felagha
The former National U17 and U20 goalkeeper died on August 30 in Senegal.
Felagha was a member of the 2009 Golden Eaglets squad though he was on the bench throughout the tournament as Nigeria won silver behind Switzerland.
He was also part of the 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup but failed to make any appearance in that tournament.
The 26-year-old was said to be awaiting airlifting back to Nigeria on holidays before the unfortunate incident.
Razak Okedeyi
Okedeyi was one of the country’s fast-rising basketball referees until his death and was a key member of the Nigerian Basketball Referees Council.
He was last seen in action during 2019/2020 Total Division One League held earlier this year in Lagos.
Okedeyi was the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Lagos State Referees Council as well as the founder and head coach of Flygerian Basketball Academy.
Deborah Onu
This was another sad death that may have been avoided as the deceased for a long time was being treated for the wrong ailment.
Instead of being treated for tuberculosis of the spine, basketball prodigy, Onu at different times across different health facilities was subjected to treatment for ulcer, typhoid, and even back pain.
The 16-year-old was due to write her Senior Secondary School examination in May/June 2020 and her basketball potentials suggests she could even be on her way to the United States afterward, but what looks like a bright future was truncated by the sad death.
Michael Ojo
The Nigerian-American basketball player died after suffering a heart attack during a training session.
Ojo, who plays for Serbian team Crvena Zvezda, collapsed at the Partizan Stadium in Belgrade and was taken to a local hospital where he later died.
An invitee to the Nigeria men’s National Basketball team, D’Tigers, Ojo represented Florida State University as a college senior before heading to Serbia to pursue a professional career.
Uremu Adu
The grassroots athletics coach died on May 10 in Lagos after a brief illness.
A regular face across several sporting facilities in Lagos, Coach Adu has produced a lot of sporting talents; some of whom are already in the United States to further their education and career.
Emmanuel Ibah
The Nigeria Football Federation had its own fair of share deaths in 2020 and one of the big losses was Mr. Ibah.
He was the NFF coordinator for the South-South zone and was also the Akwa Ibom football association chairman until his death. He was 61 years of age.
Chidi Okenwa
This was another painful death in the country’s football administration circles.
Mr. Okenwa was Chairman of the Nigeria National League until his death and was also a member of the Executive Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF). He died on May 5 aged 50.
Musa Duhu
The NFF Exco Committee Member passed on in September 19. Until his date, the Late Duhu was also the Chairman of the Adamawa State Football Association.
Apart from the death recorded in Nigeria, there were a number of other high-profile deaths across the world including Diego Maradona, Kobe Byrant, Palo Rossi among many others.

Continue Reading

Sports

Former Champion Seeks Title Defence At Para Table Tennis Tourney

Published

on

Former African champion Faith Ugwueke has expressed her ambitions for the seventh edition of the Valuejet Lagos Para Table Tennis Open which is holding at the Molade Okoya Thomas Sports Hall of the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Surulere.

The 2006 Commonwealth Games silver medallist spoke to Tidesports source her desire to defend her para singles title in the women’s category and to also secure a qualification berth for both the regional West Africa para table tennis event in Abeokuta in September and the continental championship billed to hold in Cairo, Egypt in November.

The multiple Paralympian said, “My expectation is to come out great at this wonderful tournament and to qualify for the forthcoming tournament that is coming up in Nigeria and Egypt in September and November. Last tournament, I won the singles. I won three golds at the last ValueJet tournament. And I want to believe and hope that I will maintain my position by coming in first position.”

Ugwueke had featured in the para event at the 56th Molade Okoya-Thomas National Table Tennis Championships, held at the Teslim Balogun Stadium in January, where she suffered a stunning defeat to eventual finalist and tournament runner-up Taiye Oyinloye, who in turn was beaten 3-1 (11-3, 7-11, 11-6, 11-9) by Commonwealth Games medallist, Kate Oputa, to become the women’s class 1-5 champion.

The ValueJet Lagos Para table tennis Open, which is in its seventh edition, is an event sanctioned by the governing body ITTF Africa and put together by the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation in partnership with Lagos State Sports Commission.

The event will come to a close on July 11, with the competition serving as qualifiers for the country’s players for the regional tournament in Abeokuta.

A total of 98 athletes—57 men and 41 women—from Nigeria, Benin Republic, and Togo are competing in the singles events.

Notable performances have come from Alabi, Agunbiade, Ogunkunle, and Commonwealth Games medallists Kate Oputa and Faith Obazuaye, who have showcased their class against emerging talents across various classifications.

Their presence has intensified the battle for podium finishes, with top seeds asserting dominance in their respective singles events.

Continue Reading

Sports

Nigerian Athletes Serving Doping Bans

Published

on

The Athletics Integrity Unit continues to take a hard stance against doping violations across the globe, and Nigeria has not been spared. Below are ten Nigerian athletics serving doping ban Imaobong Nse Uko (July 2026)

The AIU announced in the June 2025 sanctions list on July 1 that 21-year-old quarter-miler Uko was found guilty of an anti-doping rule violation committed on June 5 2024. Her infraction falls under whereabouts failures, having missed three tests within a 12-month period.

The AIU confirmed that her period of ineligibility will run until 23 July 2026 and all results recorded from the date of the infraction have been officially disqualified.

Uko rose to fame after clinching three gold medals at the 2021 World U-20 Championships in Nairobi, winning the women’s 400 metres, 4x400m relay, and the mixed 4x400m relay.

Stephen Eloji (June 2028)

Sprinter and hurdler Stephen Eloji tested positive for dehydrochloromethyl-testosterone in an out-of-competition test in Nigeria on May 2, 2024 and has been handed a four-year ban by the AIU.

The 25-year-old was active in the American collegiate circuit, recording strong performances in the 110m hurdles and relay events as recently as April 2024, including at the Pepsi Florida Relays and Music City Challenge.

Ada Princess Bright (September 2027)

Ada Princess Bright is serving a four-year ineligibility period after testing positive for Metenolone during the National Athletics Trials held on July 6 2023 in Benin City.

She had an active season prior to her suspension, competing in national meets in Lagos, Uyo, and Benin, and earning a relay gold at the African U20 Championships in Ndola, Zambia.

Grace Nwokocha (August 2025)

Nwokocha is serving a three-year ban after testing positive for SARMS substances including Ostarine and Ligandrol during the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.

The fallout was significant, as Nigeria was stripped of its women’s 4x100m relay gold medal at the Games. Prior to her suspension, she had qualified for the Tokyo Olympics, posted a personal best of 11.00s in the 100m, and reached the semi-finals in the 100m and 200m at the 2022 World Athletics Championships. She is ineligible to compete until 2 August 2025.

Yinka Ajayi (January 2030)

Ajayi, a 400m specialist and one-time Olympic representative, is currently serving an extended eight-year ban for multiple anti-doping violations.

The first sanction, issued after she tested positive for Metenolone in an out-of-competition test in Iowa, USA, led to a four-year ban starting in December 2021. However, further findings of tampering led to an additional four-year penalty in 2024, extending her suspension until January 25 2030.

Glory Okon (January 2026)

Glory Okon is serving a four-year ban for testing positive for Metenolone following an out-of-competition test conducted on December 2 2021 in Nigeria.

She previously won gold in the 400 metres at the 2019 African U-20 Championships in Abidjan and featured prominently at the 2021 National Sports Festival in Benin City.

Blessing Okagbare (July 2031)

Once the face of Nigerian athletics, Okagbare is now serving a 10-year ban following multiple anti-doping rule violations. She tested positive for human growth hormone and EPO in an out-of-competition test in June 2021.

Her suspension came while competing at the Tokyo Olympics and was announced in February 2022. It was later extended by an additional year in June 2022 due to further breaches.

Divine Oduduru (February 2029)

Oduduru’s  career was derailed by anti-doping violations linked to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. On October 12 2023, a Disciplinary Tribunal of the AIU imposed a six-year ban on Oduduru after he was found guilty of possessing and attempting to use prohibited substances and methods. The case stemmed from the wider investigation into Eric Lira, the first individual convicted under the US Rodchenkov Anti-Doping Act, who supplied banned substances to athletes, including Okagbare, ahead of the Tokyo Games.

Oduduru’s ban is effective from February 9, 2023 and will run until February 8, 2029.

Henry Azike (Lifetime ban)

Azike is one of two Nigerian athletes currently serving a lifetime ban after testing positive for Metenolone, an anabolic steroid. His case was classified as a second ADRV, automatically triggering a lifetime suspension from the sport.

Azike last competed in 2011, including at the Doha Amir Cup and Nigerian Championships in Calabar.

Vivian Chukwuemeka (Lifetime ban)

Two-time Olympian and African shot put record holder Vivian Chukwuemeka is serving a lifetime ban for a second doping offence after testing positive for Stanozolol at the 2012 National Championships in Calabar.

The 2002 Commonwealth Games champion and multiple-time African gold medallist had previously served a two-year ban following a 2009 positive test. Her personal best of 18.43m remains the African record in women’s shot put.

Continue Reading

Sports

Eagles B Players Admit Pressure For CHAN Qualification 

Published

on

EAGLES B PLAYERS
Pix: Super Eagles B players at the training session. 

Invited players into the Super Eagles B camp ahead of the rescheduled African Nations Championship tournament are feeling the pressure of selection, three days into their training camp at the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne, Ogun State.

The eighth CHAN tournament is taking place in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda between August 2 to 20.

Ahead of the tournament, head coach Eric Chelle had invited an initial 35 players to camp and they began training on Monday with 21 players.

Five more players arrived on Tuesday to take the number to 26 while 28 players trained on Wednesday morning with the rest expected before the end of the week.

Captain of the team through the qualifiers, Junior Nduka, spoke about the intensity of the sessions and the jostle to make the final squad.

“Everybody is under pressure but definitely the coaches want the best among the 35 players,” Nduka said.

River United and former Flying Eagles forward, Aniekeme Okon, also admitted the pressure.

“It puts pressure on us, 35 players being invited, everybody is going to give out their best with an expectation of being selected. So we keep pushing.”

Ikorodu City defender, Leonard Ngenge also said, “Obviously, it puts everyone under pressure even myself. But I just need to do my best to be on the coaches’ radar.”

Nigeria, the 2018 runners-up, are in group D of the 19-team tournament, alongside Cup holders Senegal, Sudan and Congo.

The Super Eagles B will play their first two matches of the competition, against Senegal and Sudan, at the Amman Stadium on the island of Zanzibar, before taking on Congo at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam.

Nigeria has never won the tournament, having finished third at the 2014 edition in South Africa before losing the final against hosts Morocco four years later.

 

Continue Reading

Trending