I dedicate this last one for the year 2025 to our readers who were consistently on my neck. Some even drew my mind to some critical issues and I am happy to inform you that I never missed a week . God has a way of doing things as critical issues were tackled, with suggestions that helped the administrators to shape things.
We are not unaware that some issues raised did not go down well with some but we just have to do our job, informing and educating the society.
On the home front, our suggestions and sincere criticism on Warri Wolves Football Club and Delta Queens kept the Sports Commision on their toes. Today, we can look back and see that both clubs have not let us down but they can do better especially Delta Wueens who have not justified the huge sums of money spent on them this year.
On the aspect of athletics, the state has done well to compete favorably with other states despite stiff opposition from them. The administrators should not relent on their oars and plan for 2026 as the state is set to host National Youth Games and also the National Sports Festival which Enugu State is billed to host.
Nigerian sports in 2025 offered a rollercoaster of emotions, marked by incredible triumphs from the Fantastic Falcons (Women’s Football) and dominant D’Tigress (Women’s Basketball), alongside major heartbreaks like the Super Eagles’ World Cup qualifying struggles and mixed results in athletics.
Nigeria hosted new events like the E1 Electric Boat Racing series. The year saw strong government focus, regional games like the South West Games, and a mix of global competitions, showcasing both Nigeria’s rising stars and persistent challenges.
Super Eagles’ AFCON Journey & World Cup Woes continued in the year.
While starting strong for the 2025 AFCON with a top seeding, the Men’s team faced a crushing blow, losing their World Cup play-off to DR Congo in November, a major disappointment after losing their group to South Africa.
Women’s Success: The Fantastic Falcons secured the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations title in Morocco in July, a huge victory. D’Tigress Reign: The women’s team continued their dominance at the FIBA Women’s AfroBasket in August, aiming for a fourth consecutive title in Ivory Coast.
: The men’s team, D’Tigers, faced tough qualification hurdles for the AfroBasket but showed promise.
Athletics
World Championships in Tokyo: A turbulent outing for Nigerian track and field, with some high points like Israel Okon Sunday’s 100m sprint but disappointments from top athletes like Ese Brume.
The emergence of young talent like Tobi Amusan, alongside veterans like Chidi Okezie, keeping hopes alive.
Other Highlights
- Hosting & Regional Games: Lagos hosted the first E1 Electric Boat Racing event in October, signaling growing capacity to host global sports.
- National Focus: Increased government investment, highlighted by a significant budget, signaled a strategic shift towards sports development.
In essence, 2025 was a year where Nigerian sports showed its dual nature—victories for the women’s teams and youth, contrasted with the challenges faced by the men’s football team and athletics, all under a spotlight of increased national focus and hosting opportunities.
