Nigeria surpasses all other African countries in population. So its population according to 2024 is 230+ million people, being the sixth in the world. Do you know what basically unites Nigerians? These are sports activities! Boys and girls dream of getting into the national football team, hoping to win trophies for their country. Moreover, Nigerians fill stadiums every weekend to cheer on their favorite local and European clubs.
The national sport in Nigeria, as in many countries, is football. The Nigerian national football team has achieved significant success! It took part in 6 world championships (1994, 1998, 2002, 2010, 2014, and 2018), and won the African Cup in 1980, 1994 and 2013. In 1996, Nigeria won gold at the Olympics, beating Argentina in the final. Many Nigerian footballers play in EU championships. Nigeria is in the top 8 countries in terms of goals! For example, in the 2022–23 Serie A, Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman had seven goals each. Meanwhile, a pair of strikers from Salernitana (Simeon Nwankwo and Chukwubuikem Ikwuemesi) added two more. As for the Bundesliga, Nigeria is also in the top 10 here due to forward Victor Boniface. Before the operation, he tried to take Leverkusen to the top and contributed 10 of the 12 NG goals.
It is also worth noting that bookmakers rate NG teams as clear favorites. So, many bettors choose the best platforms with the Gamblorium team. Leading brand expert Nodar Giorgadze emphasizes that these are top sites with Poli payments, guaranteed payouts, and competitive odds. Typically, Nigerian academies have cooperation agreements with EU clubs. As a rule, small clubs become a springboard for Nigerians, who train young people and then resell them more profitably to the top leagues. As we know, excellent attacking players cost more and often attract attention with their goals. However, football is far from the only sport that attracts Nigerians and in which they excel.
NG basketball is highly appreciated by the global community. This is mainly due to the success of its players on the world stage, namely Hakeem Olajuwon – one of the greatest international NBA players. Olajuwon’s brilliant performance contributed to the growing basketball passion in the country. Thus, Nigeria is currently ranked 22nd in the FIBA World Rankings.
Today, Nigeria is well known for its men’s national team – the D’Tigers. They are ranked 22nd in the FIBA World Rankings! Besides, it is the highest-ranked team in Africa. D’Tigers have repeatedly proven their worth at international competitions. Nigeria has qualified its men’s and women’s basketball teams for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Naturally, this has highlighted the country’s remarkable talent pool. At the previous Olympics, D’Tigers also achieved decent results. In 2012 in London, the team took 10th place, and four years later, in Rio, it finished 11th. These achievements prove that Nigerian basketball has a great future on the African and global stage!
Just imagine three Nigerian boxers becoming world champions for decades! These are Dick Tiger (1960s), Hogan Kid Bussey (late 1950s) and Bash Ali (1980s). Perhaps this is why the rich traditions and achievements of Nigerian champions continue to inspire a new generation of boxers. Many of them aspire to someday stand on a par with such world title holders as Tiger, Bussey, and Ali.
Besides, the global success of NG boxers – Samuel Peters and Anthony Joshua – has increased boxing interest in their homeland. Likewise, the thriving careers of UFC champions Kamaru Usman and Israel Adesanya have contributed to enthusiasm for martial arts in the country. Currently, there are about 300 professional boxers in Nigeria. Boxing remains one of the most popular combat sports! The Nigerian Boxing Federation (NBF) provides support, guidance, and resources to the country’s boxers fighting in national and international competitions.
As we are all waiting for the 2024 Olympics, Nigerian boxers are going to qualify and represent their country in Paris. Under the NBF, the goal is to ensure that a few of Nigeria’s 300 professional boxers get into the team and compete for Olympic gold.
Dambe is a traditional martial sport deeply rooted in Hausa history and culture. Originating in the 10th century, this deadly competition has existed for more than 1,000 years among the Hausa (Hausawa), one of the largest ethnic groups in Africa. Historically, Dambe was a test for Hausa butchers during harvest or festival periods. This way, they demonstrated courage. Nevertheless, it is still an important performance for local communities.
So, how do they select rivals for Dambe fights? It’s amazing, but there is no weight division! Only age and height are vital when determining fighters. They will have three rounds to defeat their opponent (however there is no time limit). The fight stops only in three cases – knockdown/knockout, fighters’ passivity, and submission. The leading arm and leg may be wrapped in straps and/or ropes.
According to the BBC, recently, interest in the Dambe has been growing worldwide. In 2019, the Dambe videos attracted a colossal number of viewers – 24+ million people. Thus, 60%+ of viewers are from outside Nigeria, with Indonesia, the Philippines, and the US leading the way.
Nigeria has a rich sporting heritage! The whole sports world has been following its record-breaking athletes in football, basketball, boxing, and athletics. As we can see, traditional combat sports such as Dambe remain widely revered in communities. Thus, it is attracting the modern generation and international audiences (through digital platforms). It’s obvious that Nigeria will continue to produce champions in various disciplines! They will represent their country with skill, strength, and determination.
This post was last modified on July 6, 2024 1:13 pm
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