Highs and lows of sports in Nigeria in 2025

As the curtains fall on 2025, sports in Nigeria witnessed major milestones and short falls within the year under review, eliciting both kudos and knocks. Each outcome of sporting activities within the year either propelled the country to global limelight or drew sour tastes, defining the triumphs and turmoils. Weekend Trust Sports takes at moments […]

As the curtains fall on 2025, sports in Nigeria witnessed major milestones and short falls within the year under review, eliciting both kudos and knocks.

Each outcome of sporting activities within the year either propelled the country to global limelight or drew sour tastes, defining the triumphs and turmoils.

Weekend Trust Sports takes at moments like the brilliance of the Super Falcons’ who won their tenth WAFCON title and the lowest point marked by the Super Eagles’ failure to reach another World Cup.

 

Super Falcons won 10th WAFCON title

The Super Falcons reaffirmed their supremacy on the continent by clinching their 10th Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) title, extending their record as Africa’s most successful national team.

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The Super Falcons led Justin Madugu  staged a comeback from two goals behind to defeat hosts Morocco 3–2 on penalties in a thrilling final in Rabat.

 

D’Tigress’ fifth consecutive Afrobasket title

Nigeria’s women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, made history by securing a record fifth consecutive FIBA Women’s AfroBasket title, after rallying from an early deficit to defeat Mali 78-64 in the final at the Palais des Sports Treichville in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.

The victory marked the national women’s basketball team’s dominance in the continent bringing the number of their titles to seven. The team led by coach Rena Wakama,  secured qualification for the 2026 FIBA World Cup qualifiers, underlining the country’s growing global influence in women’s basketball.

 

Team Nigeria won 30 medals in Saudi Arabia

Team Nigeria shone brightly at the 2025 Islamic Solidarity Games (ISG) in Riyadh, Saudi-Arabia, hauling 30 medals, a major milestone since its debut in 2005.

Despite underwhelming performances at past editions of the Solidarity Games, the country recorded her best-ever performance at the Games, finishing in eighth position.

Nigeria won six gold, four silver and three bronze medals in weightlifting, two gold, four silver and three bronze medals in athletics, two gold, and two silver in wrestling while Para-Powerlifting added a gold medal.

Also, boxing and para-athletics recorded one silver each. Taekwondo wrapped up the country’s medals with one bronze.

 

Kwara United won first-ever Federation Cup

Kwara United won their first-ever Nigeria Federation Cup title in a 4–3 penalty shootout win over Abakaliki FC after a tense goalless draw at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Lagos.

The triumph earned “Afonja Warriors” their long wait for silverware and also secured a place in the CAF Confederation Cup, marking their long-awaited return to continental football.

 

Rivers Angels won 10th  FED cup title

In women’s football, Rivers Angels reaffirmed their legacy by winning their 10th Federation Cup title, a record unmatched in Nigeria. They edged Nasarawa Amazons 4-2 on penalties after a thrilling 2-2 draw where they came back from two goals down in Lagos.

 

Historic record at ICC Women’s U19 World Cup

Nigeria’s female U-19 cricket team, the Junior Female Yellow Greens, recorded a historic milestone for their exploits finishing sixth at the 2025 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in Malaysia.

Their only defeat at the competition was against South Africa during the group stage.

 

Mixed Team Table Tennis victory at Youth Games

Team Nigeria produced one of the most uplifting performances of the 4th African Youth Games winning the gold medal in the mixed team table tennis event in Luanda, Angola.

Led by rising stars Matthew Fabunmi and Ojo Favour, Nigeria’s mixed team dispatched one of the continent’s most storied opponents, Egypt, with a composed 2–0 victory in the final.

 

Dominance at West Africa Regional table tennis Championships

Nigeria’s table tennis teams won both the men’s and women’s team events at the 2025 ITTF Africa West Regional Championships, positioning the country as a powerhouse in West Africa.

 

Lows

Super Eagles suffer another W’Cup mishap

Three-time African champions, the Super Eagles failed again to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, bringing to three the number of times they have failed to reach the global tournament since 1994.

After failing to qualify automatically from Group C, the Super Eagles lost 3-4 on penalties to DR Congo at the CAF playoff to end any hope of a seventh World Cup appearance.

 

Poor performance at World Athletics Championship

Nigeria finished 27th on the medal table at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, ending the competition with one silver medal won by Tobi Amusan in the women’s 100m hurdles.

Although the single medal marked an encouraging outcome compared to the last edition when the country did not win a single medal in Budapest, it showed obvious decline since the country won a gold and silver medal in the 2022.

 

Ofili dumps Nigeria for Turkey

Favour Ofili’s decision to switch her nationality from Nigeria to Turkey was no doubt a major setback for Nigeria’s athletics.

The 150m world record holder said missing the opportunity to compete at the Tokyo Olympics in her favourite event due to the failure of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria and the Nigerian Olympic Committee to register her for the 100m event at the last Olympics in Paris triggered her decision to dump Nigeria.

Before she switched allegiance, Ofili won six gold, two silver and two bronze medals in championship meets and was a 200 meter Olympic finalist.

 

Flamingoes, Flying Eagles’ failures

Nigeria’s youth teams struggled on the world stage. The Flamingos (U-17 women) exited the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup after a 4–0 quarter-final loss to Italy. They failed to build on their third place finish at the last edition in India.

Similarly, the Flying Eagles (U-20 men) exited the FIFA U-20 World Cup after losing 4-0 against Argentina in the round of 16 in Chile.

 

Again, Golden Eaglets failed to reach U-17 AFCON

Adding to Nigeria’s football woes, the Golden Eaglets — five-time world champions — failed to qualify for the 2025 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) after an unexpected early exit at the regional WAFU B qualifiers.

The failure of the Golden Eaglets to qualify for the championship makes it the second time they have failed to reach the finals since 2015.

 

Failed 2030 Commonwealth Games bid

Nigeria’s ambition to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games suffered a blow when the Commonwealth Games Federation turned down its proposal.

The Commonwealth board recommended India’s Ahmedabad as the host city for the Centenary Games.

 

Failure to attend World University Games

Another challenge hit Nigerian youth sport from a different angle: money. Ahead of the 2025 World University Games in Germany, 34 qualified Nigerian student-athletes were denied the opportunity to compete due to lack of funds — despite earning their spots through national trials and training camps.

 

Harvest of deaths

In recent years, Nigeria has not lost the number of sports personalities who passed away under different circumstances. In four months, the country lost at least eight prominent active and retired sportsmen and women.

The year commenced with the passing of Moses Effiong, followed by Abubakar Lawal, Christian Chukwu, Charles Bassey, Gabriel Oluwasegun Olanrewaju, Bosede Momoh, Tade Azeez and Mohammed Sani Abdul.

These losses not only robbed the country of icons but also cut dreams short, halted potential and left lasting voids in clubs, sports federations and families.