{"id":295488,"date":"2023-05-26T11:22:18","date_gmt":"2023-05-26T10:22:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nigerianfinder.com\/?p=295488"},"modified":"2023-05-26T11:22:18","modified_gmt":"2023-05-26T10:22:18","slug":"list-of-nigerian-sports-heroes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nigerianfinder.com\/list-of-nigerian-sports-heroes\/","title":{"rendered":"List of Nigerian Sports Heroes"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This article aims to mention the names of the men and women who are making or have made exploits representing Nigeria at international sports competitions across the globe. As you read on, you&#8217;d learn of the sporting event in which these heroes represented the country as well as what they did that made them stand out. Let&#8217;s dive right into it.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-295489\" src=\"https:\/\/nigerianfinder.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/List-of-Nigerian-Sports-Heroes.jpg\" alt=\"List of Nigerian Sports Heroes\" width=\"606\" height=\"343\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nigerianfinder.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/List-of-Nigerian-Sports-Heroes.jpg 606w, https:\/\/nigerianfinder.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/List-of-Nigerian-Sports-Heroes-600x340.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 606px) 100vw, 606px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Below is a list of Nigerian sports heroes:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">\n<h2><strong>Tobi Amusan\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Tobi Amusan is one of the most decorated Nigerian track and field athletes who&#8217;ve made exploits, particularly in 100 meters hurdles and 4\u00d7100 meters relay races. She is the current champion of 100 meters hurdles in the World, Commonwealth, and African championships. In addition to these medals currently held by Tobi Amusan, she is a world record holder in 100 meters hurdles race, making her the first ever Nigerian to be a world champion and a world record holder.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Aside from the current victories, Tobi Amusan has cumulatively won above 13 gold medals across several international competitions while representing Nigeria in various track and field events, particularly 100 meters and 4\u00d7100 meters relay races.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">\n<h2><strong>Nojim Maiyegun\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">During his active years as a boxer representing Nigeria in international competitions held across the globe, Nojim Maiyegun won several medals. One of his most notable achievements was winning the Bronze medal in the Men&#8217;s Light Middleweight (71kg) category at the 1964 Summer Olympics that was held in Tokyo, Japan. This made him Nigeria&#8217;s first Olympic medalist. Two years after winning third place at the Olympics, he won another Bronze medal in the 1966 Kingston Commonwealth Games in the Light Middleweight category.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">\n<h2><strong>Isaac Ikhouria<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Isaac Ikhouria is a prominent Nigerian retired boxer that won a Bronze medal at the 1972 Summer Olympics in the Light Heavyweight boxing category. In 1973, he won gold representing Nigeria in the 81kg boxing category event at the All-African Games held in Lagos.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">\n<h2><strong>Peter Konyegwachie\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Peter Konyegwachie is notable for being the first-ever Nigerian to win a silver medal in the Men&#8217;s Featherweight boxing category in an Olympics competition. He recorded that feat in 1984 when he won the Silver medal in the 1984 Olympics Games that was hosted in Los Angeles, United States.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Two years before the 1984 Olympics, Peter Konyegwachie won the Gold medal in the Men&#8217;s Featherweight boxing event in the 1982 Commonwealth Games held in Brisbane.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">\n<h2><strong>Sunday Uti\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sunday Uti is a retired Nigerian sprinter who represented Nigeria in several international competitions, winning numerous medals during his active years. In the 1984 Olympic Games held in Los Angeles, he won the Bronze medal in the 4\u00d7100 meters relay, along with three other Nigerians who participated in the race. In the 400-meter race of the same competition, he finished in the\u00a0 Sixth position.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">His other notable achievements include winning a Gold medal in the 1983 World Student Games held in Edmonton, Canada, as well as taking Second place in the 1984 African Championship held in Rabat, Morocco. In 1985, he won a Bronze medal in the World Student Games that was held in Kobe, Japan.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">\n<h2><strong>Rotimi Peters\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Rotimi Peters is a retired athlete who won a Bronze medal representing Nigeria in the 4\u00d7400 meters relay at the 1984 Summer Olympics competition. The three other Nigerians who were part of the team that won the Bronze medal were Moses Ugbusien,\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Innocent Egbunike, and Sunday Uti.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">\n<h2><strong>Moses Ugbusien\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Moses Ugbusien is a former sprinter who represented Nigeria in several international competitions. He was among the Nigerian delegation in the Men&#8217;s 4\u00d7400 meters relay that won the Bronze medal at the 1984 Summer Olympics held in Los Angeles, USA.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">\n<h2><strong>Innocent Egbunike\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Innocent, as a sprinter representing Nigeria, won numerous prizes for his participation in competitions such as the Olympic Games, African Championships, All-African Games, and Summer Universiade.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In 1984, he came first in the Men&#8217;s 200 meters race at the African Championship in Rabat, Morocco, as well as won the Gold medal in the 200-meter sprint at the 1983 Summer Universiade held in Canada. He also won a Bronze medal in the 4\u00d7400 relay at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">\n<h2><strong>Beatrice Utondu\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Beatrice Utondu is a former Nigerian sprinter who represented Nigeria in the Olympics, All-African Games, and World Junior Championships during her active years. She won a Bronze medal in the Women&#8217;s 4\u00d7100 meter relay at the 1992 Olympic Games held in Barcelona while in the 1987 All-African Games, she won the Women&#8217;s Long Jump category.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">\n<h2><strong>Mary Onyali<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mary Onyali is one of the most decorated female athletes Nigeria has ever produced. She competed in five Olympics competitions from 1988 to 2004, making her the first Nigerian to compete in five Olympic tournaments.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">She won Bronze medals at the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games and the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games for Women&#8217;s 4\u00d7100 meter relay and 200 meters race, respectively. She also boasts two medals at the 1986 World Junior Championships as well as over eight medals from competing in various editions of the Commonwealth Games. As part of the Nigerian Women&#8217;s 4\u00d7100 relay team, she won gold medals in all races between 1987 and 2003 at the African Games.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">\n<h2><strong>Bose Kaffo\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bosede Kaffo is a Nigerian table tennis player who competed in five Olympics from 1992 to 2008, becoming the second Nigerian woman to do so, after Mary Onyali. She won many awards during her active years, in competitions such as the All-African Games in which she won fifteen awards, of which seven were Gold medals. Her specialties were single table tennis games, doubles, and mixed doubles.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">\n<h2><strong>Olufunke Oshonaike\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Olofunke Oshonaike is a table tennis player who won at least twelve medals in various competitions she represented Nigeria. She has one Gold medal, six Silver medals, and four Bronze medals from participating in the All-African Games from 2007 to 2015.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">\n<h2><strong>Segun Toriola<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Segun Toriola, in his prime, recorded lots of achievements as a table tennis player representing Nigeria in several international competitions, including five Olympic tournaments. He won over 16 gold medals in numerous international competitions such as the All-African Games, African Championship, and the Commonwealth Games.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">\n<h2><strong>Chioma Ajunwa\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Chioma Ajunwa is a former track and field athlete and footballer who participated in numerous international competitions and won several medals for her exploits. She holds a Silver medal for Long Jump at the 1997 Paris World Indoor Championship, as well as a Gold medal for the Women&#8217;s Long Jump at the 1996 Olympic Games held in Atlanta, USA. She boasts several other awards for her participation in various sporting events which we didn&#8217;t mention here.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">\n<h2><strong>Daniel Amokachi\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Daniel Amokachi represented Nigeria in international football tournaments from 1990 until 1999, playing forty-four games and scoring thirteen goals. He was part of the Nigerian men&#8217;s football team that won the 1996 Olympic Games.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">\n<h2><strong>Nwankwo Kanu<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Nwankwo Kanu is one of the most popular footballers that have played for Nigerians at the international level. He won several awards during his active years playing for Nigeria, one notable one is winning the Gold prize alongside his teammates at the 1996 Olympic Games held in Atlanta, USA.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">\n<h2><strong>Jay Jay Okocha<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Jay Jay Okocha is a renowned Nigerian footballer who mesmerized everyone with his skills, particularly his dribbling skills, and free-kicks. He was among the Men&#8217;s national football squad that won the Gold Prize at the Atlanta 1996 Olympic Games.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">\n<h2><strong>Falilat Ogunkoya\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Falilat Ogunkoyoa, alongside Olabisi Afolabi, Fatima Yusuf, and Charity Opara, won Silver in the Women&#8217;s 4\u00d7400 meter relay at the 1996 Olympic Games held in Atlanta, USA. She also won a Bronze medal in the Women&#8217;s 400m race at the Atlanta &#8217;96 Olympics.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">\n<h2><strong>Enefiok Udo-Obong\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Enefiok Udo-Obong ranks as one of the most prominent Nigerian sports heroes. He was a sprinter who represented Nigeria in numerous international competitions, winning the Gold medal in the 4&#215;400 meters relay at the 2000 Olympics hosted in Sydney, as well as picking up a Bronze in the 2004 Olympic Games.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">\n<h2><strong>Olubayo Adefemi<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Before his death, Olubayo Adefemi represented Nigeria as a footballer in various international competitions. He was among the Nigerian squad that participated in the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, winning the silver medal alongside his teammates.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">\n<h2><strong>Dele Adeleye\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Dele Adeleye is noted for being among the footballers of the Nigerian men&#8217;s football team that participated and eventually won the Silver medal in the 2008 Olympic Games.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">\n<h2><strong>Oluwafemi Ajilore\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Oluwafemi Ajilore was one of the members of the Nigerian Men&#8217;s national team that won the Silver medal in the Men&#8217;s football category at the 2008 Olympic Games held in Beijing.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">\n<h2><strong>Efe Ambrose\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Efe Ambrose has won two major medals whilst representing Nigeria as a footballer in several international competitions. He won the Silver medal alongside his teammates at the 2008 Olympic Games as the Nigerian squad finished second in the tournament and picked up the Bronze medal in 2013 when the Super Eagles of Nigeria finished third in the African Cup of Nations (AFCON).<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">\n<h2><strong>Victor Anichebe\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Victor Anichebe is a footballer that has represented Nigeria in various international competitions, including the 2008 Olympic Games in which the Nigerian team won the Silver medal.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">\n<h2><strong>Onyekachi Apam<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Onyekachi Apam was one of the footballers that made the U-12 men&#8217;s national team that represented Nigeria at the 2008 Olympic Games. In that tournament, the Nigerian team came second, which in turn made the entire team, including Onyekachi Apam, win an Olympic Silver medal.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">\n<h2><strong>Emmanuel Ekpo<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Emmanuel Ekpo was part of the U-23 men&#8217;s football team that won the Silver medal in the 2008 Olympic Games which was held in Beijing.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">\n<h2><strong>Ikechukwu Ezenwa<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ikechukwu Ezenwa is a former footballer who played for Nigeria in various international competitions. He was part of the U-23 men&#8217;s national team that won second place in the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, as well as part of the Super Eagles team that won the Bronze prize in the 2019 African Cup of Nations.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">\n<h2><strong>Promise Isaac<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Promise Isaac was a Nigerian footballer who featured in several competitions, including the 2008 Olympic Games, in which the Nigerian U-23 team came second.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">\n<h2><strong>Monday James<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Monday James is a former Nigerian footballer notable for winning several prizes such as the Olympic Silver medal when he was among the squad that represented Nigeria in the 2008 Olympic Games which was held in Beijing. He also won a Silver medal whilst representing Nigeria at a U-20 World Cup as well as a Gold medal for winning the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championships alongside his teammates.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">\n<h2><strong>Sani Kaita<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sani Kaita, during his active years as a footballer, represented Nigeria in various international competitions, such as the Olympic Games, the Africa Cup of Nations, and the FIFA U-20 World Cup.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">He won a Silver medal alongside his teammates in the 2008 Olympic Games, as well as Bronze medals in the 2006 and 2010 African Cup of Nations. He also won a Silver medal as part of the Nigeria Men&#8217;s U-20 squad at the 2005 FIFA U-20 World Cup.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">\n<h2><strong>Chinedu Obasi<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Chinedu Obasi represented Nigeria in various competitions during his active years. He was among the Men&#8217;s U-23 squad that won the Silver prize at the 2008 Olympic Games held in Beijing. He also won a Bronze medal in the 2010 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) as well a Silver medal in the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championships.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">\n<h2><strong>Victor Nsofor Obinna<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Victor Nsofor won several prizes when he played for Nigeria in numerous international competitions. He was among those who received Olympic Silver medals at the 2008 Olympic Games, as well as winning Bronze medals alongside his teammates in the 2006 and 2010 African Cup of Nations.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">\n<h2><strong>Peter Odewingie\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Peter Odewingie is a retired Nigerian footballer who represented Nigeria in various international tournaments, including the FIFA World Cup, the African Cup of Nations, and the Olympic Games, among others. He won the Silver medal at the 2008 Olympic Games, and Bronze medals at the African Cup of Nations in 2004, 2006, and 2010.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">\n<h2><strong>Chibuzor Okonkwo\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Chibuzor Okonkwo was a member of the U-23 Men&#8217;s football national team that came in second place in the 2008 Olympic Games. He, therefore, holds an Olympic Silver medal for his participation in that tournament.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">\n<h2><strong>Solomon Okoronkwo<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Solomon Okoronkwo represented Nigeria as a footballer in numerous competitions. The most notable tournament in which he featured was the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, in which he earned a Silver medal.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">\n<h2><strong>Oladapo Olufemi Oluyi\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Oladapo Olufemi is a retired footballer who represented Nigeria in several tournaments, winning a Silver medal in the 2008 Olympic Games competition held in Beijing. He was also among the players that made up the men&#8217;s U-20 squad for the 2007 U-20 World Cup that was held in Canada.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">\n<h2><strong>Ambrose Vanzekin\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ambrose Vanzekin is a former Nigerian footballer who represented Nigeria in various competitions such as the U-17 FIFA World Cup in 2003, the U-20 FIFA Youth Championship, and the Olympic Games in 2008, among others. In all those competitions just mentioned, Ambrose Vanzekin won Silver medals.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">\n<h2><strong>Blessing Okagbare<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hardly is there a published list of top Nigerian sports heroes that do not feature Blessing Okagbare. She represented Nigeria in several sporting events, ranging from football to track and field games.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">She boasts numerous medals across several international companies wherein she represented Nigeria. In the Olympic Games, she picked up the Silver medal in the Women&#8217;s Long Jump at the 2008 Olympic Games held in Beijing. She also holds a Silver medal for finishing Second place in the Women&#8217;s Long Jump event at the 2013 World Championships. In the same 2013 World Championships, she got a Bronze medal in the 200-meter race category.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In the African Championships competition, the eight years in which she represented Nigeria saw her win six Gold medals and one Silver medal in various sporting events that include 100 meters race, long jump, and 4\u00d7100 meters relay.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Blessing Okagbare also won a Gold medal for the Women&#8217;s 4\u00d7200 relay category at the 2015 World Relay competition held in Nassau. She also won a Bronze medal in the split 100 meters race at the 2010 Continental Cup.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">\n<h2><strong>Chika Chukwumerije<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Chika Chukwumerijie made Nigeria proud at the 2008 Olympic Games held in Beijing after finishing in Second place in the +80kg Men&#8217;s Taekwondo category.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">\n<h2><strong>Mariam Usman<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mariam Usman represented Nigeria in various competitions in the weightlifting categories, notable among them being the Women&#8217;s +75kg weightlifting event at the 2008 Olympics Games, in which she won the Bronze medal.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">\n<h2><strong>Shehu Abdullahi\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Shehu Abdullahi and other members of the Men&#8217;s football team picked up the Bronze medal at the 2016 Rio De Janeiro Olympic Games for finishing in Third place.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">\n<h2><strong>Blessing Oborududu\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Blessing Oborududu is one of Nigeria&#8217;s female wrestling athletes who boasts of an Olympic medal. She won the Silver medal in the Women&#8217;s Freestyle 68kg wrestling event at the 2020 Olympic Games held in Tokyo, Japan.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">\n<h2><strong>Ese Brume<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ese Brume is widely known for being an athlete representing Nigeria in various competitions in long jump events. In 2020, she won the Bronze medal in the Women&#8217;s Long Jump category at the 2020 Olympic Games held in Tokyo, Japan.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">\n<h2><strong>Victor Osimhen<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Victor Osimhen is a Nigerian footballer whose international career is filled with several individual and team awards. As part of the Nigerian U-17 Men&#8217;s football team, Osimhen won the Golden Boot and Silver Ball at the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup as well as received a Gold medal as the Nigerian squad won that competition.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Victor Osimhen was also part of the Nigerian U-17 Men&#8217;s football team that won the 2015 African U-17 Championship, picking up the Golden Boot too, for being the top scorer in that competition. Ever since he got promoted to the Nigerian National Football team in 2017, he has played 24 games, scored 15 goals, and received a Bronze medal for being a member of the squad that finished in Third place at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">\n<h2><strong>Franca Idoko\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Franca Idoko represented Nigeria as a sprinter in numerous international competitions, including the 2008 Olympic Games where she won a Silver medal in the Women&#8217;s 4\u00d7400 relay.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">\n<h2><strong>Gloria Kemasuode\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Gloria Kemasuode represented Nigeria as a sprinter in numerous international competitions, including the 2008 Olympic Games where she won a Silver medal in the Women&#8217;s 4\u00d7400 relay.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">\n<h2><strong>Halimat Ismaila<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Halimat Ismaila represented Nigeria as a sprinter in several international competitions, including the 2008 Olympic Games where she won a Silver medal in the Women&#8217;s 4\u00d7400 relay.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">\n<h2><strong>Oludamola Osayomi<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Oludamola Osayomi represented Nigeria as a sprinter in numerous international competitions, including the 2008 Olympic Games where she won a Silver medal in the Women&#8217;s 4\u00d7400 relay.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">\n<h2><strong>Agnes Osazuwa\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Agnes represented Nigeria as a sprinter in numerous international competitions, including the 2008 Olympic Games where she won a Silver medal in the Women&#8217;s 4\u00d7400 relay.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">\n<h2><strong>Christy Opara-Thompson<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Christy Opara-Thompson is a retired Nigerian athlete who represented Nigeria in track and field events in various international competitions. She won a Bronze medal at the 1992 Olympic Games for her participation in the Women&#8217;s 4\u00d7100m relay. She also won medals in the 1994 Commonwealth Games for representing Nigeria in the 100m and Long Jump events.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mikel John Obi<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Faith Idehen\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Junior Ajayi\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Daniel Akpeyi\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Stanley Amuzie<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Emmanuel Daniel<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">William Troost Ekong\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Saturday Erimuya\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Oghenekaro Etebo\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Imoh Ezekiel\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Kingsley Madu\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Muenful Sincere\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Popoola Saliu\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ndifreke Udo\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Aminu Umar\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Usman Mohammed<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Glory Alozie\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ruth Ogbeifo\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Olusoji Fasuba\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Uchenna Emedolu<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Aaron Egbele<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Deji Aliu<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">James Godday<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Musa Audu<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Saul Weigopwa<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Duncan Dokiwari<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Nduka Awazie\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Fidelis Gadzama\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Clement Chukwu\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Jude Monye\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sunday Bada<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sunday Oliseh<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mobi Oparaku<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Wilson Oruma\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Taribo West\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Olabisi Afolabi\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Fatima Yusuf<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Charity Opara\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Garba Lawal<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Abiodun Obafemi<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Kingsley Obiekwu<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Uche Uchechukwu<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Emmanuel Amuneke\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Tijani Babaginda\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Emmanuel Babayaro\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Teslim Fatusi<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Victor Ikpeba<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Dosu Joseph<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Atanda Ganiyu Musa\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sunday Eboh\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Abiola Odumosu<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Olapade Charles Adeniken\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Daniel Effiong\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Davidson Ezinwa\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Oluyemi Kayode\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Osmond Ezinwa\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Francis Obikwelu\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Chidi Imoh\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">David Izonritei\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Richard Igbinegbu<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Efe Ajagba<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We think it is important to praise the Nigeria U-17 Men&#8217;s football team for being the most successful team in the history of the FIFA U-17 World Cup. The Nigeria U-17 men&#8217;s football team won the competition in 1985, 1993, 2007, 2013, and 2015 and came out as runner-ups in 1987, 2001, and 2009.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>This article aims to mention the names of the men and women who are making or have made exploits representing &#8230; <\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more-container\"><a title=\"List of Nigerian Sports Heroes\" class=\"read-more button\" href=\"https:\/\/nigerianfinder.com\/list-of-nigerian-sports-heroes\/#more-295488\" aria-label=\"More on List of Nigerian Sports Heroes\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2534,"featured_media":295489,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/nigerianfinder.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/List-of-Nigerian-Sports-Heroes.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p6w1sx-1eRW","jetpack-related-posts":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/nigerianfinder.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/295488"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/nigerianfinder.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/nigerianfinder.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nigerianfinder.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2534"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nigerianfinder.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=295488"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/nigerianfinder.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/295488\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":295490,"href":"https:\/\/nigerianfinder.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/295488\/revisions\/295490"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nigerianfinder.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/295489"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/nigerianfinder.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=295488"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nigerianfinder.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=295488"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nigerianfinder.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=295488"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}