Sports in Nigeria has been seen as a unifying factor necessary to hold firm the fabrics of the country and has been exploited though not fully.

Nigeria just as every other nation took part in sporting activities over the course of the year and here are some major events of the year 2019.

1. African Wrestling Championships

The 5th African Wrestling Championship was the biggest international wrestling event to be ever hosted in Nigeria.

It was staged in Port Harcourt, Rivers State from February 7th – 11th and it had no fewer than 90 wrestlers which comprising both males and females who represented Nigeria at the competition.

At the end of the 5 day competition, Nigeria emerged the overall champions, coming first in four major categories of the championship which had 90 gold medals at stake.

Team Nigeria wrestlers emerged top in the cadet women wrestling, junior freestyle, senior women wrestling and senior freestyle wrestling.

Some of the countries that participated in the championship apart from the host Nigeria are Liberia, Egypt, Guinea Bissau, Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco, Namibia, Kenya, Burundi, Cameron and Ivory Coast.

Others are Senegal, Ghana, Uganda, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Sudan, Madagascar, and Senegal.

2. Winter Olympics

Nigeria made her debut at a Winter Olympics by featuring in the 2018 edition in Pyeongchang, South Korea from 9–25 February 2018.

Gbenga Elegbeleye led the Nigeria delegation which consisted of four women: bobsledders Seun Adigun, Akuoma Omeoga, and Ngozi Onwumere, and skeleton racer Simidele Adeagbo.

The quartet made history as the first African women to compete in Bobsled and Skeleton events in a competition that is a rare feature on Nigeria’s sporting calendar. Sadly, they ended the Olympics without a medal.

No African nation has won a winter medal but Nigerian women are already planning to try again at the 2022 Beijing Olympics.

3. Lagos City Marathon

The Lagos Marathon is a bronze label marathon held annually in Lagos, Nigeria which took place on February 10.

Sponsored by Access Bank, over 100,000 participants were on ground vying for glory.

The race was eventually won by French-Kenyan national Abraham Kiprotich who set a new record time of 2:13:04 hours in the men’s category while Ethiopian national Alemenesh Herpha Guta came first in the women’s category.

A 10 km Family Race was introduced to encourage participation from non-professional runners for fitness, fun and health purpose

4. Commonwealth Games

Nigeria competed at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia from April 4 to April 15, 2018.

With a 90 member contingent, Team Nigeria finished in the ninth position winning 24 medals comprising of 9 gold, 9 silver, and 6 bronze medals which was a step below the 11 gold, 11 silver, and 14 bronze medals won at the 2014 Games in Glasgow, Scotland.

The Para Athletes accounted for five of the top podium placements while wrestling had three and athletics one

Team Nigeria competed in nine events – Artistic Gymnastics, Athletics, Basketball, Boxing, Para Powerlifting, Rhythmic Gymnastics, Table Tennis, Weightlifting, and Wrestling.

Read more at https://thesportsbay.com/top-10-sports-events-of-2018-in-nigeria/other-sports/national-sports/