2015 has been a wonderful year for Nigerian Sports. Let’s have a recap of the year in terms of sports.
1. Former Super Eagles captain Sunday Ogochukwu Oliseh was chosen by the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) to replace former teammate Stephen Okechukwu Keshi as the new Super Eagles coach in July. His appointment coincided with the retirements of veteran goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama and Striker Emmanuel Emenike.
2. Nigeria’s U-17 football team, The Golden Eaglets, made history at the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Chile. They defeated their West African neighbours Mali 2-0 in the final to lift their 5th World Cup crown thus becoming the most successful team in the tournament’s history. Victor Osimhen scored ten goals for the team to surpass the previous record of nine goals set by French man Sinama Pongolle at the 2001 edition in Trinidad & Tobago. Osimhen was also named the second best player at the tournament behind his captain Kelechi Nwakali.
3. Nigeria’s U-23 Men’s Football Team, Dream Team VI, defied all odds to lift the second edition of CAF U-23 African Cup of Nations. They defeated Algeria 2-1 in the final courtesy of a brace from Etebo Oghenekaro, who finished as the tournament’s top scorer with five goals. Okechukwu Azubuike was crowned the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the tournament. As a consequence, the team have qualified to be one of Africa’s representatives at next year’s Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
4. Thirty-two year old Nigerian Scrabble player, Wellington Jighere became the first African to be crowned World English Language Scrabble Player’s Association Champion this year in Perth, Australia. He defeated Lewis Mackay of Britain in four straight rounds in the finals to cart away the $10,000 prize money.
5. Nigeria’s Men Basketball team, D’Tigers also became AfroBasket Champions for the very first time in Rades, Tunisia. They defeated tournament favourites Angola 74-65 in the final. Shooting Guard Chamberlain Oguchi was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the tournament.
6. Enyimba FC of Aba, unarguably Nigeria’s most successful football club, secured their seventh Glo Premier League title to usurp previous record holders, Rangers International of Enugu, who won their last (sixth) league title back in 1984.
7. Nigerian striker Odion Ighalo has lit up the English Premier League (EPL) with his club Watford following their promotion from the Championship in May. Ighalo has been directly involved in seven goals in his last seven top flight appearances (five goals, two assists) and currently has ten goals in the EPL. He has also scored more goals than any other player in the top four tiers in 2015 (26).
However, Nigerian Sports also had some sad moments this year.
8. The first Nigerian national team goalkeeper, Sam Ibiam, died this year at the age of 90. Pa Ibiam was part the UK selected team of 18 Nigerian footballers that toured England in August 1949.
9. Former Nigeria goalkeeper, Wilfred Agbonavbare, passed away early this year at a Spanish hospital, following a protracted battle with cancer. He was a member of Nigeria’s U-21 Mexico 1983 Flying Eagles, 1984 AFCON silver medalist and 1994 AFCON gold medalist.
10. Former Heartland and Kano Pillars forward Abdul Haruna also died this year after collapsing on the pitch during a friendly football match between Kano professionals and a selected amateur team in Kano. He was 27 years old. He was the second Nigerian player to die on the pitch this year after defender David Faramola Oniya slumped and died on the pitch after just few minutes into a local friendly in Malaysia back in June.
May their souls rest in peace, amen.
