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Perhaps more than any thing else, sports have been in the vanguard of
bridge-building in Nigeria. To the typical Nigerian, sport is more than just
competition. It promotes mutual understanding and fights discrimination. It
builds self-esteem and helps in healing process in the vast populations
overcoming trauma.
One example of this is the emergence o f Enugu Rangers FC from the
ravages of the Nigerian Civil War. The club became a rallying point for all
the Ibos who had been traumatised by the 30 -month Civil War. Enugu
Rangers became a formidable tranquiliser.
Every success of the national teams was an occasion for ego-massaging
for the country. Sport also delivers hope to people ravaged by poverty.
Many hitherto poor people have delivered themselves and their
dependants through sport-inspired wealth. Just as the country made
impact in other spheres, so also had it done in sports. It is on that account
that one can look back to some good sporting achievements of the
country.
Before independence, Nigerians have been made waves in sports. At the
1950 British Empire and Commonwealth Games, Joshua Majekodunmi
was the first Nigerian sportsman to shoot into international reckoning
when he tied for the silver medal with Scotland¶s Alan Paterson in the
high jump event. But Emmanuel Ifeajuna surpassed that when Nigeria
officially entered for the games in Vancou ver, Canada in 1954 and won a
gold medal in high jump. Three years later, Hogan µKid¶ Bassey became
the world featherweight champion. Besides the boxing feats of Hogan
Bassey and Dick Tiger, the most appreciable feat of Nigeria in sports was
the qualification of the football team, the then Green Eagles, for the 1968
Olympic Games in Mexico.
The 1960s was also the era of prominent sports personalities such as Sam
Igun and Dr. George Ogan (high jump), David Ejoke , Violet Odogwu
(sprints) among others.
In 1973, Nigeria hosted the 2nd All -Africa Games in Lagos and also
introduced the National Sports Festival as a way of discovering athletes
to represent the country try in continental and international meets. The
first meeting in Lagos attracted about 6,000 athle tes.
The 1970's also witnessed tremendous achievements. Nigeria's senior
football team won a gold medal in the 2nd All-Africa Games while the
country's contingent to the games won an overall second position on the
medals table.
In 1976 and 1977 saw the country tasting victories in continental
championships through IICC Shooting Stars and Rangers International of
Enugu in the Cup Winners Cup competition. At club level, Shooting Stars
went ahead to become the inaugural winners of the CAF Cup in 1992,
while BBC Lions also won the African Winners Cup in 1990 before
Bendel Insurance followed with CAF Cup victory in 1994 and also added
the WAFU Cup trophy to their accomplishments. Enyimba in 2003
became Nigeria¶s first winners of the continental clubs¶ competiti on, the
CAF Champions League and followed up with another impressive victory
the following year, becoming the first back-to-back African champions in
close to 30 years. The crowned their efforts with double Super Cup
victories in 2004 and 2005.
The country's record of achievements continued in the 1980s with series
of achievements especially in football. The bronze medals won in 1976
and 1978 in the African Cup of Nations were improved upon in 1980.
The Christian Chukwu-led Green Eagles won the cup for the first time in
Lagos. In 1984 and 1988, Nigeria again got to the finals of that
championship but lost to Cameroon on both occasions to win the silver
medals. The second place was also achieved in 1990 and 2000
competitions. That is apart from placing third in the competition on seven
occasions including that of 1992, 2002, 2004, 2006 and 2010.
Even though it may be argued that the Egypt, Cameroon and Ghana have
better African Nations Cup rating than Nigeria, it should also be
considered that Nigeria¶s two victories, three runners-up and six third
placements are commendable if it is considered that the country is just
one of the less than 13 of 52 African countries to have won the
competition.
Nigeria qualified for the World Cup for the first time at USA ¶94 and was
at the brink of making it to the quarter finals at their debut. The same feat
was repeated at the next two World Cup competitions where the country
had commendable outings at France ¶98 and Korea/Japan 2002. Again,
the Super Eagles qualified for the South Africa 2010 World Cup.
Nigeria¶s football exploits are not limited to that of clubs and the senior
national teams. The youth teams also raised the sporting profile of
Nigeria. The Under-20 team, the Flying Eagles became the African
champions in 1983 by winning the Tessema Cup in 1983 and going
ahead for the then World Youth Championship in Mexico where the team
beat one of the former champions, USSR, 1-0. Even though the Flying
Eagles failed to advance to the next round after losing 3-0 to eventual
winners, Brazil, and drawing goalless with star-studded Holland, it was a
harbinger of hope for Nigerian football.
Two years later, the under-17 team, later nicknamed Golden Eaglets,
stunned the globe by emerging the inaugural world champions in 1985 i n
China. The victory took Nigerian football to a high pedestal, setting the
stage for a respect of Nigeria in international competitions. To prove a
point of Nigeria's new found strength in football, the Nations under-21
team went to Saudi Arabia for the World Cup in 1989 and lost narrowly
in the final to Portugal. The "miracle of Damman", Nigeria's victory over
USSR after trailing four goals behind and with only twenty- five minutes
left, stunned the world during the championship. They were runners -up in
1991 and 2005.
The country did not only excel in football in the 1980s as athletics
provided opportunities for splendid performances. Five U.S. based
Nigerians won gold medals at the World University games which took
place in Edmonton, Canada: Sunday Uti (400m), Yusuf Ali (long jump),
and Ajayi Agbebaku (triple jump). Innocent Egbunike (200m), and Chidi
Imoh (100m). Nigeria went to the Olympic Games in Los Angeles in
1984 and came back home with a silver medal in boxing through the
efforts of Peter Konyegwachie and a bronze from the 4 x 400m male
team led by Innocent Egbunike. There has been a remarkable
improvement over the achievements of the 1970s and 80s in the 90s. The
exploits and potentials of Nigerian abroad have been tapped for the
benefit of the country and the result has been very impressive.
At the 1990 Commonwealth Games in Auckland, New Zealand. Nigeria
did well, winning five gold, 13 silver and seven bronze medals. This is a
far improvement from previous outings. The returns from the games in
Victoria, Canada even exceeded that of 1990. Nigerians returned home
with 13 gold medals and many silver and bronze medals. With the
euphoria of the 1990 games, the country stormed the Barcelona Olympic
Games in 1992 and again there was an improvement from previous
records. The quartet of Olapade Adenikan, Chidi Imoh, Kayode Oluyemi
and Davidson Ezinwa won the silver in the 4 x 100m, while the women
led by irrepressible Mary Onyali captured the bronze medal in the same
event. Two Nigerian boxers, Richard Igbineghu and David Izonritei won
silver medals in super heavyweight and heavyweight respectively at the
Barcelona Olympics in 1992. It was a moment of joy for all Nigerians as
the ideal of Olympism seemed to be taking firm root in Nigeria¶s
participation. The desire to compete, the skills to excel, the courage to
overcome and the strength to believe are the qualities of a true Olympian.
These are well reflected in some of Nigerian Olympians. It is through
their performances that Nigeria can today look back to some memorable
achievements in what has universally been accepted as the greatest show
on earth! Even though Nigeria may not count as one of the super powers
of the Olympic Games and even may not be the best African country at
the Games, somehow, performances have since the debut of 1952 in
Helsinki reflected the spirit of the Olympic motto: ³Swifter, Higher,
Stronger.´
Before the Barcelona games, Nigeria had been having fluctuating results
at the Olympics. Flashback to the barren-medal outing at the Mexico¶68
Olympics after a bronze medal was won by Noj im Maiyegun at the
Tokyo¶64 Games. Mexico¶68 was followed by another bronze medal win
(again in boxing as in 1964) by Isaac Ikhouria at Munich¶72 Olympics.
With the boycott of the 1976 games in Montreal, Nigeria¶s next outing
was at the Moscow Olympics of 1980 where another zero -medal was
recorded.
The cycle of fluctuating fortunes was completed with another zero -medal
performance at Seoul¶88 after the two medals won at Los Angeles¶84.
But the situation appeared to have changed since the Barcelona Games.
Four years later, Nigeria had its best outing, winning two gold, a silver
and three bronze medals. That was not all; the gold medal in the football
event was a landmark as it was the first time in 68 years that the gold
medal in the football event had been won by a team outside Europe. In
Sydney, Nigeria won three medals, a less-flattering result from the
previous games.
But in spite of the situation, Nigerians can still look up to some great
sportsmen and women who have done the country proud at the past
Olympic Games. Their efforts are worthy to be emulated as Nigerians
look forward to a good outing at the Athens Olympics. From Nigeria¶s
first Olympic medallists, Nojim Maiyegun to Udo-Obong, Enefiok who
anchored Nigeria¶s 4x400m men to silver winning performance at
Sydney 2000. From the galaxy of star performers, a list of 10 locally
generated great Olympians and another 10 who were foreign-based, has
been generated.