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Nigerian Sports 2025: Falcons Shine as Eagles Falter
Nigerian sports 2025 saw the Super Falcons dominate WAFCON while Super Eagles missed World Cup qualification, marking highs and lows across disciplines
Nigerian sports closed 2025 with a tale of contrasts, as women’s teams achieved historic triumphs while men’s teams suffered dramatic disappointments, leaving fans both elated and heartbroken.
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The Super Falcons cemented their continental dominance by winning a record 10th Women’s Africa Cup of Nations title in Morocco.
Led by coach Justine Madugu, the Falcons overcame a two-goal deficit to defeat hosts Morocco 3-2 in Rabat’s Olympic Stadium on July 26.
Captain Rasheedat Ajibade earned the MVP award, with goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie named best goalkeeper.
The team received national honours and cash gifts from President Bola Tinubu upon their return.
Nigeria’s women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, also made history by claiming a fifth consecutive FIBA Women’s AfroBasket title, defeating Mali 78-64 in Abidjan.
Coach Rena Wakama guided the team to extend an unbeaten tournament streak to 29 games, with Amy Okonkwo named MVP for a second consecutive championship.
Other historic female feats included the Junior Female Yellow Greens finishing sixth at the ICC Women’s U-19 T20 World Cup in Malaysia, the Green Falcons’ debut at the IRL Women’s Rugby World Series in Canada, and Nigeria’s women’s flag football team winning the IFAF African Championship in Cairo.
Men’s sports, however, saw notable disappointments.
The Super Eagles failed to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, losing to DR Congo 4-3 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in the African play-off final, marking Nigeria’s second consecutive World Cup miss.
Athletics suffered setbacks as Favour Ofili switched nationality to Turkey due to administrative lapses, and Nigeria finished 27th at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo with only two medals.
Boxing also made headlines for tragic reasons, as former heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua was involved in a fatal road accident in Ogun State on December 29, resulting in two deaths, though Joshua sustained minor injuries.
Despite the setbacks, Nigerian sports celebrated other high points, including Eniola Bolaji’s para-badminton successes, Kwara United winning their first Federation Cup, Rivers Angels claiming a record 10th Federation Cup title, and Team Nigeria excelling at the Islamic Solidarity Games in Saudi Arabia with 30 medals across weightlifting, athletics, and wrestling.
The year also witnessed profound losses in Nigerian sports, with the deaths of notable figures including Peter Rufai, Moses Effiong, Abubakar Lawal, and 22 athletes from Kano, highlighting the fragility of life in sport.
As 2025 concludes, Nigerian sports reflect a stark duality: women’s teams dominate continental competitions, while systemic issues continue to challenge men’s teams.
Also read: Partnerships in sports development urged to boost football funding
The task for 2026 will be building on the triumphs while addressing the setbacks to restore national pride across all disciplines.
In a decisive move aimed at alleviating the economic burdens of retired public servants, Zamfara State Governor, Dr Dauda Lawal, has officially approved increased monthly pension payments for all former workers from both state and local government offices. The approval follows an extensive financial review of retirees’ living conditions, with particular attention to those in lower-income brackets who have been disproportionately affected by the prevailing cost-of-living crisis.
The decision was precipitated by the findings and recommendations of a special committee empaneled to evaluate the welfare situation of pensioners across the state. The committee’s report highlighted acute financial distress among aging retirees and called for immediate remedial action. In response, the state government has authorized a substantive upward adjustment in monthly pension stipends.
This increment aligns seamlessly with the Federal Government’s Minimum Wage Act of 2024, which explicitly recommended an additional monthly sum of at least N32,000 for pensioners. Governor Lawal has opted for full implementation of this advisory for all retired state and local government employees a policy intervention expected to benefit thousands of households across Zamfara. The state government has subsequently issued binding directives to all relevant agencies to ensure the expeditious and seamless disbursement of the enhanced payments without procedural delays.
Speaking on the development, the Honourable Commissioner for Information and Culture, Mahmud Muhammad Dantawasa, characterized the policy as a tangible demonstration of Governor Lawal’s unwavering commitment to improving the quality of life for both active and former government workers. According to the Commissioner, the administration operates on the principle that dignified retirement includes access to basic necessities and financial comfort. Beneficiaries across all local government areas have been assured of prompt payment once implementation commences.
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