Sports
2022: How Nigeria Fared In Sports
No doubt, the year 2022 will remain unforgettable for many sports-loving Nigerians for different reasons.
Athletics in Nigeria recorded its best moment in 2022. From the country’s participation at the World Championship in Oregon, USA, to the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England, it was an unforgettable year for the country.
Top on the list of athletes who made Nigeria the talking point were Tobiloba Amusan and Ese Brume. Amusan, who was named Africa’s Best Female Athlete of the Year 2022 by the Confederation of African Athletics (CAA), last week, towered above her contemporaries this year.
Just when Nigeria’s hope for a medal was fading at the World Championships in Oregon, Amusan produced one of the biggest surprises of the championship, by speeding to a world record 12.12 seconds in the semifinals of the 100m hurdles, following it with a wind-assisted 12.06 seconds in the final to win gold.
A few weeks later, Amusan won gold for Team Nigeria at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England, where she also set a record. She took a step further by winning the Diamond League trophy for the second successive season, which made her one of the best in the world and Africa’s undisputed number one in track and field in 2022.
Amusan, a former footballer from Ogun State, will be proud of her unprecedented feat in 2022 despite failing to claim the global accolade of World Female Athlete of the Year, which was won by America’s Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone.
Amusan started 2022 with a successful defence of her African Championships title in Mauritius in early June. Thereafter, she was in Paris, where she improved on her 12.42 seconds African record as she ran 12.41 seconds at the Diamond League meeting in Paris.
In Benin City, Edo State, at the 2022 All Nigerian Championships, Amusan effortlessly erased the 12.63 seconds record set in 1997 by Angela Ateda as she won another national title for herself, having run an impressive 12.58 seconds.
Long jumper, Ese Brume, also took Nigeria’s athletics to a new level in 2022. The Delta State-born Brume proved again why she remains the most consistent medal-winning Nigerian athlete in the past few years.
Brume was Nigeria’s only medallist at the World Indoor Championship in Belgrade, where she leapt to a Season Best (SB) of 6.85m to win the silver medal. Doing this, she became Nigeria’s first World Indoor medallist in 14 years since Olusoji Fasuba last won the 60m title in 2008.
At the World Outdoor Championships in Oregon, USA, Brume grabbed a ‘golden’ Silver medal with a brilliant Season Best of 7.02m in the final. In the process, Brume made history as the first African (male or female) to win two long jump medals at the World Championships, in addition to her bronze medal from Doha 2019.
She is also the second Nigerian and African woman after Blessing Okagbare to make the long jump podium at the World Championship. Brume capped off her exceptional season at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England, as her sixth jump (7.00m) broke the previous Games Record (GR) of 6.99m and in the process regaining her Commonwealth title from 2014.
This year, Brume became the first African woman to jump four legal marks over 7.00m. She hit the 7m twice, jumping 7.02m to finish second in Oregon and her victorious GR mark in Birmingham.
While athletics brought joy to Nigerians in 2022, it was not so for football, as it appeared a case of one step forward and two steps backward. From Super Eagles’ worst outing at the 2022 AFCON in Cameroun, where they crashed out in the round of 16, failure to qualify for the World Cup in Qatar, as well as unimpressive outings at regional football tournaments, Nigeria’s football was nothing to write home about this year.
The failure to qualify for Qatar 2022 World Cup was a major talking point on how the nation’s football deteriorated in 2022. After qualifying for the last three editions of the FIFA World Cup in 2010, 2014 and 2018, many football-loving Nigerians were optimistic that the Super Eagles would join the party to Qatar, which hosted the first World Cup in the middle East.
Their level of optimism followed Super Eagles’ promising start in Group C in the second round of the qualifier, where Nigeria was grouped alongside Cape Verde, Liberia and the Central African Republic (CAR)
.With only the first-placed team in each group (of 10) eligible to qualify for the final qualifying round, the Super Eagles finished top of the group with 13 points having won 4, drew 1, and lost 1. That was when the team was handled by the German tactician, Gernot Rohr.
Augustine Eguavoen took over as Super Eagles coach, following outcry by some Nigerians that Rohr’s team was not entertaining enough. The 10 group winners were paired to fight for the five spots allocated to Africa at the World Cup, and the Super Eagles were drawn against familiar foes, Black Stars of Ghana in the final qualifying round.
After a 0-0 draw in the first leg in Cape Coast, Ghana, Eguavoen and ‘the gang’ played out a 1-1 draw in Abuja, thereby, losing the World Cup ticket on away goal rule, having failed to score in Cape Coast.
Poorest ever Round of 16 exit in Cameroun
The last edition of the African Nations Cup (AFCON) held between January 9 and February 6, 2022, in Cameroun. Coach Gernot Rohr qualified the Super Eagles for the tournament by winning four matches and drawing two in their group that had Sierra Leone, Benin Republic and Lesotho.
The ‘People’s Candidate’, Eguavoen, led the Super Eagles to the AFCON in Cameroun and were in Group D, alongside Egypt, Sudan and Guinea Bissau.
Eguavoen began brightly by winning all games in the group stage in Garoua, thereby, increasing the level of optimism of Nigerians back home.
While some quickly raised hope of another AFCON win since Coach Stephen Keshi and his gang conquered the continent at South Africa 2013, others simply tagged the team a champion in waiting.
But the Carthage Eagles of Tunisia ‘cut’ Nigeria’s ticket in the round of 16 after handing 1-0 defeat to the flat-footed Super Eagles, an outing described as worst-ever performance for the nation at the AFCON.
Super Falcons’ sad outing at AWCON
Before the Super Falcons journey to Morocco for the 2022 CAF Women’s Nations Cup (AWCON) between July 2 and 23, Nigeria was the most successful nation in Africa. But the nation’s history and reputation in women football was rubbished in Morocco.
The Super Falcons did not only crash out in the semifinal after losing to host, Morocco, 5-4 on penalties, but also lost their third-place game 1-0 to Zambia to settle for fourth place.
The Super Falcons were the best in Africa’s women football with local coaches, but ‘corruption’ made the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to hire foreign coaches for the team.
And under the tenure of former NFF President, Pinnick Amaju, the once celebrated Super Falcons fell from grace to grass in Morocco, the worst in Nigeria’s history.
The Super Falcons booked the ticket to Morocco 2022 as champions of Africa, and having won 11 out of 14 editions of AWCON. Signs that all was not well with the Super Falcons appeared, when the team finished second in a group that had South Africa, Botswana and Burundi.
The poorest record by the Super Falcons in Morocco notwithstanding, the NFF still has faith in American journeyman, Coach Randy Waldrum, ahead the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup to be co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand. And unless a miracle happens, coach Waldrum will parade same old legs come next year.
High-flying Flamingos In India
PERHAPS, the only good thing that came out from football in 2022 was the exploits of Nigeria’s Women U-17 team, the Flamingos, who won a ‘golden bronze’ for Nigeria in India. Their elder sisters, the Super Falcons, had fumbled in Morocco.
Before their departure for the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in India, not much was known of the team led by Coach Fatai Olowookere. But the girls gave a good account of themselves.
At India 2022, the Flamingos were drawn in Group B alongside Germany, Chile and New Zealand. The Nigerians picked six points to finish second in the group.
A quarterfinal clash against USA gave some Nigerians a nightmare, but a determined Flamingos dispatched the Americans 3-4 on penalties to advance to the semifinal, where they eventually lost to Colombia 5-6 on penalties.
In the third-place match against Germany, the Flamingos were down 3-0 but fought back to draw level. They claimed the ‘golden bronze’ by beating the Europeans, Germany, 3-2 on penalties. Flamingos third place finish in India was the first time they moved beyond the quarterfinal stage in FIFA U-17 World Cup.
Best-ever National Sports Festival
One of the best moments for Nigerian youths in 2022 was the hosting of the 21st National Sports Festival in Delta State. For a majority of the athletes, their coaches, sports administrators and journalists, Delta 2022 was the best ever in history of the National Sports Festival since it began in 1973.
Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, in his determination to stage a beautiful Games, put in place quality infrastructure including brand new tartan track at the Stephen Keshi Stadium, two brand new indoor sports hall, new swimming pool, new hockey pitch at Okpanam, and new hostel for accommodation at Issele-Uku.
The Games witnessed the shattering of several national records and setting of new ones in track and field. Some African champions were also dethroned in scrabble among other events.
A peep into 2023.
With Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup already concluded, attention of many soccer lovers across the globe has stated to 2023. It will be a busy year for football across the world and in Nigeria.
The luck of draw has pitched the Super Falcons in Group B alongside co-host Australia, Republic of Ireland and Canada in the 2023 Women’s World Cup.
Also, 2023 will see a resumption of FIFA’s men’s age-grade competition with the U-17 and U-20 World Cups scheduled to hold in Peru and Indonesia respectively.
By: Gowon Akpodonor
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.
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-
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.
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.