.What a year 2023 has been for an average Nigerian, the country’s masses started the year looking for where to get cash because of the scarcity of the currency due to a brouhaha between the former CBN governor and the court over the change of new naira notes. So, when an average Nigerian tells you that the only thing that unites us as a nation or makes us happy is “football” (sports generally), you must agree.
Nigeria Sports in 2023 has been mixed generally. The Nigeria male basketball team failed to qualify for the FIBA World Cup that was held in Japan, Indonesia, and the Philippines, the Nigeria U17 Football team failed to qualify for the FIFA U17 World Cup, Nigeria failed to win a single medal at the World Athletics Championship in Hungary amongst other shortcomings.
Amongst all these pitfalls were some bright spots for Nigeria Sports in 2023. Sportsintel.ng takes a look at my best moments in Nigeria Sports that “Unites the country” and “put smiles on the faces of the people.”
5. Nigerian Sports In 2023: ARUNA QUADRI WINS THE ITTF AFRICAN CHAMPIONSHIP
Nigeria won only two Gold medals at the International Table Tennis Federation African Championship in Tunisia. Aruna Quadri has the honours for winning the country’s only individual gold medal in the men’s singles event.
Aruna Quadri defeated his long-time Egyptian rival Ahmed Saleh in four straight sets to defend his title and maintain his position as the number one player on the continent.
After his win, the Nigerian had this to say: “I am happy with the title because I have a good and bad memory of Tunis, having got injured here during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games qualification. Winning another title here is good to erase the bad memory. This win will remain with me for a long time. I am happy and I look forward to the next challenge.”
4. CHIAMAKA NNADOZIE WINNING THE INAUGURAL CAF GOALKEEPER AWARD
Super Falcons Chiamaka Nnadozie will look back at 2023 and have fond memories of the year. 2023 has to be the best year for Nnadozie so far and she hopes to build on the success in the year.
The Nigerian announced herself to the world (if you have not been aware of her) when she saved a penalty from the legendary Canadian attacker Christine Sinclair to salvage a point for Nigeria in their opening game at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. Her performance led her to make several sports Platform teams on the group stage.
She followed that up by helping her club Paris FC to make their first-ever UEFA Women’s Champions League group stage. It was no surprise that at the CAF Awards, she won the best goalkeeper on the continent.
Like Lebron James said after helping the Lakers to win the NBA Cup, records can be broken but winning it first will never be eclipsed. Nnadozie will forever be remembered as the first recipient of the CAF Awards Best Woman Goalkeeper.
3. NIGERIA BEATING AUSTRALIA AT THE FIFA WWC
The Super Falcons of Nigeria have been to every edition of the FIFA Women’s World Cup since its inception in 1991. Despite being a regular, not many people gave the team a chance to do anything of note at this year’s edition because not only did the country relinquish her crown as the continent’s best a year ago at the Africa Women’s Nations Cup, but result coming into the tournament wasn’t good enough. A record of three wins from the last ten fixtures (7 losses).
Nigeria had earlier drawn with Olympic Champion Canada (0–0) in her first game and facing one of the co-hosts Australia represented another hurdle for the side and it was a hurdle they came out in flying colours with a colourful display that had the whole country on a happy mode.
The Australians took the lead but Uchenna Kanu’s equalizer late into the first half meant both teams went into the halftime break equal. Two second-half goals from Osinachi Ohale and Asistat Oshoala before a late consolation by Alanna Kennedy made the scoreline for The Matildas.
That victory was only Nigeria’s fifth win in thirty games played at the World Cup and it is only unfortunate that the country went out of the tournament at the Round 16 stage on penalties to the losing finalist England.
2. TOBI AMUSAN WINNING HER 3RD DIAMOND LEAGUE TROPHY
You ask yourself what is special in a World Record holder and former champion winning her third crown in a row? The answer lies not in the win but the circumstances that led to that win and that is the story of Tobi Amusan’s triumph in Oregon, this year.
After the exploits of 2022, the big question surrounding Tobi Amusan is, can she do it again? The year started with injury worries for her and when she managed to race, there was a certain Jasmine Camacho Quin in top form.
The country sports cycle was thrown into a frenzy when the Athletics Integrity Unit provisionally suspended Tobi Amusan for missing three drug tests and cast doubt on her participation at the upcoming World Athletics Championship in Budapest, Hungary.
In all this, Tobi maintained her innocence and was proven right a day before the Championship, winning her appeal. She ran her way to the 100m hurdles final, but she couldn’t defend her title finishing 6th.
Tobi showed that what happened in Budapest was a fluke or her battle with the AIU might have contributed to her poor showing at the Championship when she defended her Diamond League trophy a month later in a field that had Olympic Champion Jasmine Camacho Quin (2ns), former World record holder Kendra Harrison (3rd) and current World Champion Daniele Williams (4th).
Nigerian Sports In 2023: VICTOR OSIMHEN WINS THE CAF APOTY
Nigeria prides itself as the best African footballing nation due to the availability of talents at its disposal, home, and abroad. so it was a bit of triumph and homecoming for the country when Victor Osimhen won the country first first-ever male CAF Africa Player of the Year award since 1999 when Nwankwo Kanu did.
Victor Osimhen winning the award was a moment of joy for all Nigerians to cherish because it means a lot to have produced the continent’s best after over two decades of not winning it.
Osimhen was a worthy winner in a year he won the Capocannoniere as the Italian Serie A top scorer, became the African with the most goals in the league, and most importantly led Napoli to its first Scudetto in 33 years while he also emerging as the top goal scorer in Africa Nations Cup qualifiers.
Nigerians might have had a topsy-turvy year, but remembering these moments smile at them as they can only hope for more in 2024.