Many Nigerians have been astonishing in their various sports. We have selected five who have been remarkable in their achievements for the month of June.
In no particular order, meeting CN Hub’s Top 5 Sports Stars
Aruna Quadri
Without a doubt, the current ITTF’s 20th best table tennis player in the World, Aruna Quadri makes the list
The Commonwealth Games Silver medalist, known for his forehand-oriented playing style, has dominated table tennis in Nigeria since he reached the quarter finals in the Men’s Singles Competition of the 2014 World Cup.
The table tennis maestro is a member of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and the first ever Nigerian to break into the ITTF top 20 World ranking.
Josh Okogie
Young, Energetic, Nigerian.All these describe the second man on our list, Josh Okogie.
The 19 year old was drafted by Minnesota Timberwolveswith the 20th pick in the NBA draft in June 2018.
With his new team there’s yet a lot more we’ll see the youngster accomplish.
Ike Diogu
D’Tigers skipper, Ike Diogu, for his dexterity strength and resolve to return the Nigerian senior men’s basketball team to their place atop Africa’s basketball teams, makes our list.
Ike Diogu co-captained D’Tigers to a first place finish at the 2015 Afrobasket championships in Tunisia, and led the team to a silver finish two years later, relinquishing their title to Tunisia.
The skipper is on his natural side yet again, leading D’Tigers into the finals of the FIBA World Cup qualifiers with no defeats recorded for the team so far.
Blessing Okagbare-Ighoteguonor
Okagbare‘s strength and courage so far, despite the challenges the sprinter has been facing, deserves a place on our list.
Okagbare failed to show up for the 100m race at the Stade de la Pontaise on Thursday evening at the IAAF Diamond League’s eighth stop in Laussane.
Reasons as to why the athlete was absent from the event for a second time (first in 2014) are yet to be known. However for her progress so far, she deserves some accolades.
Ahmed Musa
On June 22nd 2018, Nigerians were all of one heart and mind as streets the nation over were agog with Nigerians celebrating Nigeria’s first World Cup victory thanks to Super Eagles forward, Ahmed Musa.
A brace from Musa in the second-half of Nigeria’s second World Cup fixture against Iceland gave Nigeria her first three points and a hope of making it into the Rounds of 16 of the tournament. However, that hope was dashed when the Super Eagles lost their final World Cup game against Argentina.
Musa established himself in Russia as a very quick-to-respond forward, with such speed and tenacity. For that he gets a place one our list.
Team Nigeria finished the 2024 Paralympic Games in France with a total of seven medals after para-powerlifter Folashade Oluwafemiayo created a new world record by lifting 167 kg in the women’s 86 kg category on Sunday, September 9, 2024, to win gold. Read more about Sports The Nigerian beat her world record after outlifting … Continue reading Para-Powerlifter Folashade Oluwafemiayo Sets New World Record
Nigerian Paralympic powerlifting athlete Onyinyechi Mark has set a new world record by lifting an impressive 150 kg in the 61 kg category on Friday, September 6, 2024. Read more about Sports Onyinyechi Mark, 23, out-lifted opponents in the La Chapelle Arena, such as China’s Cui Jianjin, who won silver after lifting 140 kg, … Continue reading Onyinyechi Mark Sets New World Record, Wins Nigeria’s First 2024 Paralympic Gold
The Nigerian women’s national basketball team, D’Tigress, ended their historic outing at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games in France after an 88-74 point loss to the United States in the quarterfinals. Read more about Sports Nigeria entered the game after making history as the first African basketball team (male and female) to advance to … Continue reading Gallant D’Tigress Bow Out of the Olympics
D’TigressNigeria women’s national basketball team, D’Tigress, made history by qualifying for the quarterfinals of the Olympic Games for the first time, after beating Canada 79-70 in their final group game at the Pierre Mauroy Stadium on Sunday, August 4, 2024. Read more about Sports Rena Wakama’s ladies went into the game as underdogs against a … Continue reading D’Tigress Make Olympic History After Beating Canada