Story of Nigerian women who excelled in sports in last 25 years

Nigerian women have continued to record remarkable achievements in sports by setting world records, inspiring the next generation, and redefining what’s possible. Despite challenges, they show determination, skill, and courage to break barriers. Their achievements span across various sports, putting Nigeria on the global sports map and inspiring future female athletes. They are not just […]

Nigerian women have continued to record remarkable achievements in sports by setting world records, inspiring the next generation, and redefining what’s possible. Despite challenges, they show determination, skill, and courage to break barriers.

Their achievements span across various sports, putting Nigeria on the global sports map and inspiring future female athletes. They are not just winning medals or trophies, but also changing perceptions. Their journeys are filled with resilience, hard work, and the pursuit of excellence.

Weekend Trust chronicles the women who have shaped the fortunes of sports in the country from 1999 till date.

 

Tobi Amusan

Her performances in the 100-meter hurdles have been absolutely outstanding. She even set a Games record and won the gold medal at the 2018 Commonwealth Games. Amusan now holds the world record in the 100-meter hurdles with an amazing time of 12.12 seconds. She achieved this incredible feat during the semi-final of the women’s 100-meter hurdles at the World Athletics Championship in 2022. She’s the first Nigerian and only Nigerian to claim a world record in athletics.

She’s currently the African and Commonwealth champion in the 100-meter hurdles. Tobi also won the Diamond League title in 2021. She defended her title in 2022 and 2023, making her a three-time Diamond League holder. These accomplishments have made her to become the reigning ‘poster girl’ of Nigeria’s athletics.

 

Odunayo Adekuoroye

Adekuoroye represented Nigeria in the women’s freestyle 53 kg event at the 2014 Commonwealth Games and brought home a gold medal. She also won a bronze medal at the 2015 World Wrestling Championships, showcasing her talent on the global stage.

At the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, she claimed her third successive gold medal, making it her third Commonwealth Games victory after winning in 2014 and 2018. Her continental dominance is also inspiring.

 

Blessing Okagbare

In 2013, Blessing Okagbare burst onto the scene and became a shining star for Nigeria female athletes the same role the likes of Chioma Ajunwa, Mary Onyali-Omagbemi, Falilat Ogunkoya, Mercy Nku and a host of others played in the past, clinching silver and bronze medals in the long jump and 200 meters events, respectively. And in 2015, she made history in the Diamond League. She competed in the 100m, 200m, and long jump events a remarkable 38 times which earned her a spot in the Guinness Book of Records.

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Ese Brume

Brume is an exceptional long jumper who won a bronze medal at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo with a jump of 6.97m, right behind Germany’s Malaika Mihambo who clinched the gold with a 7.00m jump. At the 2019 World Athletics Championships in Doha, she won another bronze medal in the Long Jump with a jump of 6.91m. And in 2022, she made history as the first African woman to jump four legal marks over 7.00m.

Brume is the only athlete to win three consecutive Long Jump titles at the African Championships in Athletics and the first African to win two Long Jump medals at the World Athletics Championships. Brume was the gold medalist at the 2013 African Junior Athletics Championships, the 2014 Commonwealth Games, the 2014 African Senior Athletics Championships, and the 2015 African Junior Athletics Championships.

 

Blessing Oborududu

She announced herself to the wrestling world in 2007 when she was invited to join Nigeria’s team for the African Games and she has gone to represent the country in various international competitions, including the Olympics and the World Championships. She became the first Nigerian female wrestler to win a silver medal at the Olympics and silver medal at the World Championships in 2019. She has also won multiple gold medals at the African Championships and the Commonwealth Games as well.

 

Asisat Oshoala

Oshoala is a powerhouse in women’s football. In 2015, she made history by becoming the first African woman to compete in England’s top women’s league, joining Liverpool in the Women’s Super League.

In 2014, she was named the best player at the FIFA U-20 tournament. She was also honored by the former president of Nigeria, Goodluck Jonathan, who awarded her the title of Member of the Order of the Niger. And let’s not forget her impressive nomination for the 2023 Women’s Ballon d’Or! Just three months after that, she secured her sixth win as the African Women’s Footballer of the Year.

 

Chiamaka Nnadozie

Chiamaka has emerged as a force to be reckoned with in goalkeeping. She joined the Rivers Angels in 2016 and played a vital role in their victory in the 2019-2020 season of the NWPL. When she was just 19, she represented the Super Falcons in the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup in France. So, she made history by becoming the youngest goalkeeper to keep a clean sheet, helping the team secure a 2-0 victory over Korea.

She continued to showcase her skills in the 2023 Women’s World Cup, where she captained the Super Falcons in their first game against Canada. Her outstanding performance, including three crucial saves, led to a goalless draw for the team, and she was rightfully awarded the player of the match.

Chiamaka’s talent did not go unnoticed. At the 2023 Confederation of African Football (CAF) Awards, she was honored with the Goalkeeper of the Year award in the female category.

 

Amy Okonkwo

Amy Okonkwo made a lasting impact on women’s basketball through her impressive collegiate career with the TCU Horned Frogs, earning All-Big 12 honors and making significant contributions to the program. Not only that, she also showcased her skills in the premier French league, Ligue Feminine de Basketball.

Amy’s leadership skills were evident when she led the Nigerian female basketball team, D’Tigress, to victory in the AfroBasket Women tournament in 2021. She played a crucial role in their success during the Women’s Afrobasketball Championship, where she scored the most baskets (a whopping sixteen!) and was named the season’s Most Valuable Player (MVP).

 

Elizabeth Balogun

Elizabeth Balogun captured the attention of basketball fans with her exceptional skills and versatility. Starting from high school, she made her way up to college basketball, playing for Georgia Tech, Louisville, and Duke University. After graduating, she joined D’Tigress in 2020.

In 2023, D’Tigress emerged victorious in the Women’s Afrobasketball Championship hosted by Rwanda, and Balogun played a crucial role in their win. She scored an impressive 15 baskets, showcasing her talent and contributing to the team’s success.

 

Favour Ofili

At just 20 years old, she has already achieved so much and left many in awe. Her journey started with a standout performance at the 2019 African Under-18 Championships, where she won both the 200-meter and 400-meter races. Favour set an African indoor record in the 200-meter race on February 27, 2021, with a time of 22.75 seconds.

But she didn’t stop at that record. In the following year, she surpassed herself and clocked an astonishing 22.46 seconds in the 200 meters at the Tom Jones Memorial race. It was a historic moment as she became the first Nigerian and the second African woman to achieve this incredible feat under 22 seconds.

 

Folashade Oluwafemiayo

The Paralympic champion is a serial winner, having won the gold medals at two editions of the World Para-Powerlifting Championships in 2017 and 2021. She also competed at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, where she broke her own record after lifting 155kg to win the gold medal in the heavyweight event. Before then, she had set a World Record of 152.5kg at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

 

Mary Osijo

Osijo is definitely one of Nigeria’s standout athletes in recent times. As a weightlifter, she has represented Nigeria in the 87 kg category at international competitions. In August 2022, Osijo achieved an impressive feat by winning the bronze medal at the 2022 Commonwealth Games. She competed in the Women’s 87 kg Weightlifting event and lifted a combined total weight of 225 kg from Snatch and Clean & Jerk. Her unblemished series, successfully lifting all her attempts in both categories, truly showcased her strength and skill. She won gold at the 2014 All African Games Trial and also secured a gold and two silver medals at the Edo State Sports Festival in 2020.

 

Desire Oparanozie

Desire Oparanozie was a forward in the Chinese Women’s Super League for Wuhan Jianghan University and also represented the Nigerian national team.

Desire’s speed and strong physique make her a formidable striker on the field. She was a key player for the Nigerian national team, participating in multiple FIFA Women’s World Cup tournaments, including 2011, 2015, and 2019.

Not only that, Desire has also made her mark in the African Women’s Championship, winning all four tournaments she participated in, which were held in 2010, 2014, 2016, and 2018. She also scored crucial goals in the finals of the 2014 and 2016 championships.

 

Mfon Sunday Udoka

Mfon is truly a trailblazer in her family and in the world of basketball. She had a successful career playing professionally in the NBA for years, and she inspired her sister, Imeh Udoka, to join the NBA as well.

In 2004, Mfon and the Nigerian female basketball team made history by becoming the first African team to win a game at the Olympics.

 

Lucy Ejike

She has represented Nigeria at six consecutive Paralympic Games from 2000 in Sydney through to 2020 in Tokyo. She has won medals at each; three gold, two silver and one bronze. She won a further silver medal at the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games women’s lightweight category of the para powerlifting event. At the 2008 Beijing Games, she broke the world record with her first attempt, lifting 125 kg and has set many other records.

The outstanding performances of these female athletes in different sports have shown clearly that Nigeria is blessed with abundant talents who have continued to shine brightly on the global stage despite organisational and administrative hiccups back home.