Sports have long been a source of entertainment, competition, and even national pride in Nigeria, with a diverse range of activities enjoyed by the nation’s population.
This comprehensive guide explores the top most followed sports in Nigeria, giving an in-depth look at their history, the players who bring them to life, and the nation’s passion for them.
Football
Football has long been one of the most popular sports in Nigeria, with the country having produced great players in the past. It’s a sport enjoyed by all ages, with children often learning the basics of the game at a young age.
The Nigerian Football Federation is the governing body for the sport in Nigeria, with the league for the most popular form of football, known as the Nigerian Premier League, beginning at the start of every year.
The league is contested by the country’s top football clubs, with a play-off system determining which teams are promoted or relegated, depending on their league position at the end of each season.
At the end of each season, the top two teams are awarded a place in the African Champions League, competing against the top clubs in Africa for a place in the FIFA Club World Cup.
Cricket
Cricket is a very old sport that has been played in Nigeria since the middle of the 19th century. Today, cricket is one of the most popular sports in Nigeria.
The Nigerian Cricket Association is the nation’s governing cricket body and has been affiliated with the International Cricket Council (ICC) since 2000. The sport is played in 11 states in Nigeria. There are a number of cricket clubs in major Nigerian cities.
Wrestling
The sport is generally split into two main styles, freestyle wrestling, and Greco-Roman wrestling. The All-Nigeria Wrestling Federation is the governing body for the sport in Nigeria, hosting various competitions on a national level.
Wrestling is also a sport that is regularly featured in Nigeria’s secondary school competitions, with the country’s top schools often competing against one another.
Wrestling is a sport that can be competed at any age and level, with many of the country’s senior national team members having started the sport when they were just children.
Wrestlers can compete in a number of styles, including freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling, as well as the more extreme styles of amateur wrestling, like the Mexican and Indian styles.
Each type of wrestling has a different set of rules and regulations, as well as its own set of techniques.
Athletics
Athletics regularly features in the country’s secondary school competitions, with the sport’s top event, the 100 meters sprint, being especially popular with the younger generation. In recent years, there has also been a growing interest in the long jump, with many of the nation’s athletes practicing the athletic event in preparation for the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.
Athletics is a sport that can be competed at any age, with infants and teenagers regularly taking part in various competitions. While the 100 meters sprint is the most common event, there are a number of other events that can be competed in, including the long jump, the high jump, and the shot put.
Each event has its own set of rules and regulations, as well as the equipment required for each, with the long jump requiring the use of a jumping board, and the shot put requiring a certain amount of weight in order to be thrown.
Basketball
Basketball is a sport enjoyed by people of all ages, with infants, teenagers, and adults taking part in various competitions across the country. The Nigeria Basketball Federation is the governing body for the sport in the country, hosting various competitions at a national level.
The national team is particularly successful, having competed in the last four FIBA World Cups, and having won a bronze medal at the 2014 event. There are a number of domestic leagues for basketball in Nigeria, with the top league, the Nigerian Basketball League, beginning at the start of each year.
There are two main variations of rules for the sport in Nigeria, the American rules, which are followed in the domestic league, and the international rules, which are followed when the country’s national team competes.
There are various types of basketball that can be played, each with its own set of rules and regulations, as well as its own set of techniques.
Volleyball
The Nigeria Volleyball Federation is the organization responsible for the sport’s administration, hosting various competitions at a national level.
There are a number of domestic leagues for volleyball in Nigeria, with the top league, the Nigerian Volleyball League, beginning at the start of each year. There are two main variations of rules for the sport in Nigeria, the American rules, which are followed in the domestic league, and the international rules, which are followed when the country’s national team competes.
There are a number of different types of volleyball that can be played, each with its own set of rules and regulations, as well as its own set of techniques.
Rugby
Rugby is a sport that is enjoyed by people of all ages, with infants and teenagers regularly taking part in various competitions.
The Nigeria Rugby Union is the organization responsible for the sport’s administration in the country, hosting various competitions at a national level. There are a number of domestic leagues for rugby in Nigeria, with the top league, the Nigerian Rugby Championship, beginning at the start of each year.
There are two main variations of rules for the sport in Nigeria, the 15-man game, which is similar to the sport as played in many other countries, and the 7-man game, which is a slightly less physical variation.
There are a number of different types of rugby that can be played, each with its own set of rules and regulations, as well as its own set of techniques.
Conclusion
Like any other African country with a young population, sports are great in Nigeria and this tells why they are popular. Keep an eye on these and such articles.