The year 2024 was one of mixed outcomes for Nigerian sports in general. There were noteworthy high points to savour as well as terrible lows. As we get set to welcome the New Year, we look back to some of the finest moments Nigerian sportsmen gave the nation to treasure.
Super Eagles (Football)
Nigeria’s senior men’s national team defied expectations for their 20th participation at the Africa Cup of Nations tournament in Cote d’Ivoire by reaching the final before losing 2-1 to the host nation.
It was the Super Eagles’ first appearance at an AFCON final since the 2013 edition in South Africa where the team won the title at the expense of Burkina Faso.
Subsequently, Nigeria bounced back from a poor start to the 2026 World Cup qualifying series by going through the AFCON 2025 qualifying series unbeaten to qualifying for the competition set to hold in December.
The Super Eagles will be aiming to continue that good run of form when the World Cup qualifiers resume later in 2025.
Ademola Lookman (Football)
The Super Eagles and Atalanta winger was named CAF Men’s Player of the Year for 2024, taking over the reins from fellow countryman, Victor Osimhen.
27-year-old Lookman reached double digits in goals and assists, and was instrumental as Atalanta finished runners-up in the Coppa Italia and won the UEFA Europa League title.
The energetic forward scored a historic hat-trick in the UEL final against Bayer Leverkusen to solidify his claim as Africa’s best, having finished as Nigeria’s top scorer at the last Africa Cup of Nations.
Lookman’s exploits also saw him make the Team of the Tournament at AFCON and the Europa League. He has also been Atalanta’s Player of the Season for 2023 and 2024, and was named in the CAF Team of the Year for 2024.
D’Tigress (Basketball)
The team led by coach Rena Wakama secured their place at the 2024 Olympics in Paris via the Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Belgium in February and when the Olympics began in the summer, D’Tigress powered their way to the quarterfinals where they lost to eventual winners, USA.
Nigeria recorded historic wins over Australia and Canada on their way to announcing themselves to the world. Despite falling short in the quarterfinals, D’Tigress had won hearts and fans across the globe and would surely be favourites to retain their Afrobasket crown in 2025.
Rivers Hoopers (Basketball)
The franchise led by coach Ogoh Daoudu became the first Nigerian side to finish on the podium at the Basketball Africa League (BAL).
Having picked up a ticket from the regional qualifiers in Senegal, Rivers Hoopers went to Rwanda for the tournament proper and finished in third position. Also, Ogoh Daoudu was named the Coach of the Tournament.
Nigeria’s Medal Winners at the 2024 Paralympic Games
While Team Nigeria failed to win a single medal at the 2024 Olympic Games, the story was different in the 2024 Paralympics in Paris as seven medals were won by the athletes that represented the country.
Mariam Eniola Balogun won Nigeria’s first medal and indeed became Africa’s first medal winner in the Women’s Badminton Singles SL3 with her bronze medal.
Her medal was followed four days later by Esther Nworgu’s silver medal in the Women’s 41kg category of the Powerlifting event, while Nigeria’s first gold medal came two days later through Onyinyechi Mark’s triumph in the Women’s 61kg category in Powerlifting.
Four more medals followed over the next 48 hours after Mark’s win, with Bose Omolayo winning silver in Powerlifting, Flora Ugwunwa with another silver in Women’s Javelin Throw F54 and Isau Ogunkunle with a bronze in the Men’s Individual Class 4 category of Table Tennis.
The biggest cheer for Nigeria was left for last as Folashade Oluwafemiayo claimed gold in the Women’s 86kg category in Powerlifting, breaking the world record twice while doing so.