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.
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.
The task for 2026 will be building on the triumphs while addressing the setbacks to restore national pride across all disciplines.
