For the Nigerian sports faithful, the year 2022 did not exactly fulfill them after some poor outings by the country’s athletes. EBENEZE BAJELA and ADEWALE’S ANNIVERSARY take a look at some of the athletes who put in some eye-catching performances this year
Tobi in Amusa
Famous for her world record in the Women’s 100mH at the 2022 World Championships in Oregon, Tobi Amusan didn’t catch a break. Rather, what would prove to be the biggest achievement of his career prompted a journey to the top, and the Ogun-born athlete did not disappoint.
At the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, Amusan followed up his world record with a Commonwealth record, defending his Diamond League title before the end of the season.
To cap off an incredible year, Amusan has been named Africa’s best athlete for 2022 by the Confederation of African Athletics (CAA) ahead of Kenya’s Faith Kipyegon and Ethiopia’s Letesenbet Gidey after missing out on the Women’s World Athlete of the Year Awards. – the American Sydney McLaughlin and the Jamaican Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce finished third respectively.
Ese Mist
It’s come a long way for Nigerian long jumper Ese Brume, who has worked tirelessly in search of stardom in recent years.
2022 was Nigeria’s only athletics medalist at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, Brum started the year with a silver medal in the women’s long jump at the 2022 World Indoor Championships in Belgrade and added another silver at the World Athletics Championships. in Oregon
She eventually bagged a gold medal at the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games with a stunning 6.99m leap in the women’s long jump, which also set a record and was tagged Nigeria’s most consistent athlete as she has never failed to win a medal. in recent years
Folashade Oluwafemiayo
Between 2019 and 2022, Nigerian powerlifter, Folashade Oluwafemiayo has been consistent in winning gold for Nigeria in every competition he has participated in.
In 2022, the reigning Paralympian and three-time World Champion added to her tally when she won the women’s Para powerlifting heavyweight (over 61kg) title, a new World and Commonwealth Games record. The 37-year-old lifted 155kg for a new record to accumulate 123.4 points in his third attempt.
Good Chiemere Nwachukwu
24-year-old Goodness Chiemerie Nwachukwu was one of Nigeria’s stars at the 2022 Commonwealth Games where she topped the podium in the women’s F42-44/61-64 discus start flight.
In his first two throws, the 23-year-old twice broke his own F42 world record with a best of 36.56m to win gold. It was a great performance watched by a capacity crowd at the Alexander Stadium.
She won the gold medal in the Women’s Discus F42, setting a new world record in the discipline of 36.56 meters. He also broke his own world record of 32.95m, previously set at the 2021 World Para Athletics Grand Prix in Tunis.
Odunayo Adekuruoye
If nothing else, Odunayo Adekuoroye deserves a place among Nigeria’s top performers in 2022 because of his mentality.
The well-born wrestler overcame her struggles in 2022 and won the gold medal in the Women’s 57kg freestyle event at the Commonwealth Games, defeating India’s Anshu Malik 7-3 to successfully defend her crown. It was Adekuoroye’s third consecutive Commonwealth Games gold medal after winning at Glasgow 2014, Goldcoast 2018.
After the Commonwealth, he went to Turkey, where he placed first in the Islamic Solidarity Games.
Earlier, he won his seventh consecutive gold medal at the African wrestling championships in El Jadida, Morocco.
Asisat Oshoala
Asisat Oshoala usually has a stellar year and 2022 was no different despite being injured for part of the year.
Indeed, injuries prevented her from completing the 2022 WAFCON with Morocco’s Super Falcons, but Oshoala did not want to erase her work as she became the first woman to win the Confederation of African Football (CAF) player of the year for the fifth time.
She also made the list of 20 women for the 2022 Ballon d’Or.
The 27-year-old Nigerian won the golden boot in Spain’s Primera Division despite missing three months of the season due to recurring injuries.
He scored 20 league goals in 19 games for Barcelona Femeni and shared the award with Madrid CFF’s Geyse Ferreira, who scored 20 goals in 27 games.
Victor Osimhen
2022 was remarkable for Victor Osimhen, who despite being marred by injuries and other health-related issues, continues to shine for Napoli.
In addition to seeing Nigeria unbeaten in the recently concluded World Cup in Qatar, the year has been one of Osimhen’s best.
The 23-year-old won the best emerging player award at the Globe Soccer Awards after his impressive performances in the 2021/22 Italian Serie A season and is currently Serie A’s top scorer in the first half.
Osimhen has nine goals in 11 Serie A appearances this season and his contribution is one of the reasons Luciano Spellatti’s side are top of the league and Napoli are on course to win the league title for the last time in 1990. .
Alex Iwobi
Everton have Alex Iwobi to thank after surviving relegation to stay in the English Premier League last June.
The Nigerian was at his best towards the end of the season and produced impressive performances to become a fan favorite at Goodison Park.
The former Arsenal player continues his good form in the 2022/23 season despite being played in different positions by manager Frank Lampard.
Iwobi produced his best performance against Crystal Palace as Everton returned to winning ways in the league with a 3-0 win.
The Nigerian midfielder was involved in three of the Toffees’ goals but had two assists and was deservedly named Man of the Match, finishing the game with two assists after making three key passes while completing an 86 per cent pass accuracy. 32 his 37 finding his goals.
Flamenco
Nigeria’s U-17 women’s national team finished third at the 2022 U-17 Women’s World Cup in India by beating European champions Germany on penalties to clinch the bronze medals.
The Flamingos stunned tournament favorites USA to reach the finals of the cadet competition for the first time, their best ever start at the cadet level, before losing to Colombia to book their place with Germany in the third-place match.
