List of Nigerian sportspeople

List of Nigerian sportspeople includes notable sportsman of the country.

American football[edit]

Association football[edit]

Yakubu – Guangzhou R&F
Victor Anichebe – West Brom
Tunji Banjo
Chibuzor Chilaka
Christian Chukwu
John Fashanu
Sani Kaita
Nwankwo Kanu – played in 1994, 1998 and 2002 World Cup finals
Garba Lawal
Obafemi Martins – VfL Wolfsburg
Anthony Nwagbara
Mikel John Obi – Chelsea F.C.
Segun Odegbami
Peter Odemwingie – West Bromwich Albion F.C.
Austin "Jay-Jay" Okocha (born 1973) ^[1]
Praise Onubiyi
Nedum Onuoha – Manchester City F.C.
Oguchi Onyewu
Rashidi Yekini
Joseph Yobo – Fenerbahçe S.K.
Michael Obafemi – Southampton
Henry Onyekuru
Bukayo Saka
Kelechi Iheanacho – Leicester City

Athletics[edit]

Blessing Okagbere – track and field athlete ^[2]^[3]
Chioma Ajunwa – first Nigerian Olympic gold medalist (long jump)
Olusoji Fasuba – sprinter

Basketball[edit]

Kenny Adeleke (born 1983) – basketball player
Giannis Antetokounmpo (born Adétòkunbọ̀ in 1994) – 2-time NBA MVP and 2021 NBA Finals MVP for the Milwaukee Bucks. His parents are Nigerian, and though he was born in Athens, Greece, he did not receive Greek citizenship until 2013. According to Giannis, him and his brothers grew up in a "Nigerian home" with "no Greek culture." Antetokounmpo holds dual-citizenship, having received his Nigerian passport in 2015.^[4]
Thanasis Antetokounmpo (born 1992) – Giannis' older brother also plays for the Milwaukee Bucks. Like Giannis, Thanasis' surname was changed from the Yoruba "Adétòkunbọ̀" to the Greek transliteration "Antentokounmpo" as part of the citizenship process.^[5]
Tunji Awojobi (born 1973) – professional basketball player
Kelenna Azubuike – Golden State Warriors
Udoka Azubuike – University of Kansas
Suleiman Braimoh (born 1989) – Nigerian-American basketball player in the Israel Basketball Premier League
Yinka Dare – New Jersey Nets
John Egbunu (born 1994) – Nigerian-born American basketball player for Hapoel Jerusalem of the Israeli Basketball Premier League
Obinna Ekezie (born 1975) – professional basketball player
Festus Ezeli – Golden State Warriors
Andre Iguodala – Philadelphia 76ers
Ikenna Iroegbu (born 1995), American-born Nigerian basketball player for Hapoel Galil Elyon of the Israeli Basketball Premier League
Jayson Obazuaye (born 1984)
Nneka Ogwumike – Los Angeles Sparks
Emeka Okafor – Phoenix Suns
Ike Ofoegbu (born 1984) – American-Nigerian Israeli Premier Basketball League player
Hakeem Olajuwon
Victor Oladipo – Orlando Magic
Michael Olowokandi (born 1975)
Ekpe Udoh – Milwaukee Bucks
Ime Udoka – San Antonio Spurs
Mfon Udoka – Detroit Shock, Houston Comets, Los Angeles Sparks
Talib Zanna (born 1990) – basketball player in the Israel Basketball Premier League

Boxing[edit]

Dick Tiger (born Richard Ihetu) – former World Boxing Association world middleweight and light-heavyweight champion.
Hogan Bassey – former World Boxing Association world featherweight champion.
Ike Ibeabuchi – former World Boxing Council international heavyweight champion
Samuel Peter – former World Boxing Council world heavyweight champion

Mixed martial arts[edit]

Anthony Njokuani
Israel Adesanya
Kamaru Usman
Muhammed Lawal – former Strikeforce world light-heavyweight champion

References[edit]

^ "Okocha Joins Bolton". BBC.
^ "Blessing Okagbere".
^ "Athlete Profile For Blessing Okagbare". iaaf. Archived from the original on 2014-08-27. Retrieved 2014-09-04.
^ https://andscape.com/features/bucks-giannis-antetokounmpo-greek-freak-wants-to-go-back-to-his-nigerian-roots/
^ "The best player in the NBA is "Nigerian" but most Nigerians have no idea who he is". Quartz. 2019-03-11. Archived from the original on 2023-05-03.

[1] "Okocha Joins Bolton". BBC.

[2] "Blessing Okagbere".

[3] "Athlete Profile For Blessing Okagbare". iaaf. Archived from the original on 2014-08-27. Retrieved 2014-09-04.

[4] ttps://andscape.com/features/bucks-giannis-antetokounmpo-greek-freak-wants-to-go-back-to-his-nigerian-roots/

[5] "The best player in the NBA is "Nigerian" but most Nigerians have no idea who he is". Quartz. 2019-03-11. Archived from the original on 2023-05-03.

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