Sports
Tokyo Olympics 2020: Nigeria’s Best in 13 Years
Nigeria at the Olympics: Now and in the Past
Nigeria has competed in the Olympics since 1952, but Africa’s most populous country has only a total of 25 medals to show for its efforts.
Three gold medals, ten silver, and twelve bronze medals make up the total. Read on as we run you through some of the country’s 16 Olympics performances, in which 722 competitors were the proud recipients of these awards.
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Based on their previous performances, you’ll be able to rate the countries competing in the future Olympics. Let’s take a look at Nigeria and its Olympic history.
2020 Olympics
The Minister of Youth and Sports said that Team Nigeria’s performance in the recent Games was the “best in the last 13 years.” Minister Sunday Dare rightly believes Nigerians should be proud. Their country finished 74th on the medals table.
The minister called Nigeria’s athletes “amazing” and said the country’s 74th-place finish in the awards table was the best in many years, 13 in fact!
According to The PUNCH, Nigeria finished 68 out of 201 countries in Sydney in 2004, with two 3rd place bronze medals. However, in Tokyo 2020, the Nigerian teams placed 74th out of 205 countries, winning two bronze and a silver medal.
While only five competitors from the Men’s 4 x 100m relay and Men’s 4 x 400m relay got to the finals at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, 8 athletes from the Men’s 4 x 100m relay and Men’s 4 x 400m relay qualified for the finals in Sydney 2004.
Naming The Athletes
Blessing Oborududu earned the silver medal for Nigeria in Tokyo 2020, while Ese Brume got the bronze. Brume won her maiden Olympic award and Nigeria’s first at these games with a just shy of 7-meter long jump in the final at the Olympic Stadium.
Oborududu, an up-and-coming wrestler, won a silver medal in the women’s freestyle wrestling 68 kg division. Nigeria had not won a medal in wrestling since 1952 when the country first participated in the Olympics.
Nigeria finished 32nd at Atlanta with two gold medals, one silver and three bronze. Here’s a list of the athletes and the medals they won.
Chioma Ajunwa, women’s long jump winner, won a gold medal. Bisi Afolabi, Falilat Ogunkoya, Charity Opara, and Fatima Yusuf won silver, representing Nigeria in the women’s 4400 meters relay.
The football team claimed the gold medal, propelling them into the history books, beating the world’s favourite, Brazil. The team captain Nwankwo Kanu claimed his rightful place as a Nigerian legend.
We know Nigeria can perform but has Nigeria not performed well in the last 3 Olympic games, or are the critics unkind? Let’s look at some of Nigeria’s top moments in its sporting history and shout out these achievements.
Nigeria’s Best at Past Olympic Games
Jim Maiyegun won the country’s first Olympic medal in Tokyo, 1964. Honouring the men’s light-middleweight division, he won bronze.
After that, Nigeria had to wait another eight years until another boxer, Isaac Ikhouria, won bronze in the light heavyweight category at the Munich Games in 1972.
The 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona saw Team Nigeria redeem themselves by capturing three silver and one bronze medal. Boxing and athletics were also sources of these.
August 3, 1996, will live on in the minds of soccer-crazed Nigerians who celebrated their country’s historic first soccer gold medal win in Atlanta’s 1996 Centennial Olympic Games.
In the men’s heavyweight and super-heavyweight divisions, Richard Igbineghu and David Izonritei won silver medals, while the male and female relay teams won medals in the 4100m relay competitions.
Olapade Adeniken, Davidson Ezinwa, Chidi Imoh, and Oluyemi Kayode of the men’s quartet earned silver. At the same time, Beatrice Utondu, Christy Opara-Thompson, Mary Onyali, and Faith Idehen of the women’s four won bronze.
At the Games in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1996, Nigeria earned two gold medals, one silver medal, and three bronze medals in unprecedented performances.
On July 29, 1996, Chioma Ajunwa won a gold medal in the country’s first-ever winning women’s Long Jump event with her first jump.
Chioma Ajunwa earned a gold medal in the country’s first-ever women’s long jump event on July 29, 1996, with her first jump.
On August 3, Nigeria’s U-23 squad won a thrilling match against Argentina. Kanu Nwankwo, the team’s captain and scorer of the historic golden goal that beat Brazil in the semi-final, was one of the team’s most well-known members. Austin Okocha, Sunday Oliseh, Taribo West, Uche Okechukwu, and Daniel Amokachi were also on the team.
At the 2000 Sydney Olympics, Team Nigeria had a mixed bag of results. The USA team of Alvin Harrison, Antonio Pettigrew, Calvin Harrison, and Michael Johnson won the 4x400m relay race ahead of the Nigerian team of Clement Chukwu, Jude Monye, the late Sunday Bada, and Enefiok Udo-Obong. Still, the IOC reallocated the gold medal to Nigeria on July 12, 2012, after Antonio Pettigrew admitted to using banned substances in 2008.
In their August 28, 2004 competitions, the Sydney finalists, Aaron Egbele, Deji Aliu, Uchenna Emedolu, Musa Audu, Olusoji Fasuba, James Godday, Saul Weigopwa, and Enefiok Udo-Obong earned two bronze medals.
Another male football team, captained by the late Promise Isaac and managed by Samson Siasia, won silver in Beijing in 2008 after losing to Argentina due to an Angel di Maria goal.
Nigeria has never really shone at the Olympics, but they stepped up their game this year, earning them a ‘well-done’ from the country’s minister of sport.
The Super Bowl is far more than a football game. Each year, it becomes a global cultural moment, where sport, music, and social conversation collide. Super Bowl LX promises to be no exception. While fans anticipate the on-field clash between the New England Patriots and the Seattle Seahawks, much of the world’s attention has shifted to the halftime stage airing on both ESPN and ESPN2 (DStv Channel 219), where three-time Grammy winner Bad Bunny will make history.
The Puerto Rican superstar, born Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, is set to become the first non-English-speaking artist to headline the Super Bowl halftime show. His selection has sparked debate in the United States, particularly amid ongoing anti-ICE protests, but it also signals a broader recognition of his cultural impact. Known for pushing artistic boundaries and amplifying underrepresented voices, Bad Bunny brings a rare combination of commercial appeal and social consciousness to the NFL’s biggest stage.
The timing of his performance carries added weight. Just a week before the Super Bowl, Bad Bunny made history at the 2026 Grammy Awards, winning Album of the Year for Debí Tirar Más Fotos (I Should Have Taken More Photos). He used his acceptance speech to address immigration and human dignity, declaring: “Before I say thanks to God, I’m going to say, ICE out,” and calling on audiences to respond to hate with love. That statement has heightened expectations that his halftime show will blend spectacle with message, marking a performance that is about identity as much as entertainment.
As anticipation builds, questions linger over how Bad Bunny will translate this cultural moment on the field. Will the show lean entirely into his chart-topping hits, or will it echo the themes of unity and resistance he spoke of at the Grammys? Either way, the performance is already being framed as a defining cultural moment of 2026, with viewers worldwide eager to witness history in the making.
For audiences in Nigeria, Super Bowl LX and Bad Bunny’s historic halftime performance will air live on both ESPN and ESPN2 (DStv Channel 219) on Monday, February 9, 2026, at 12:30 am WAT. Be sure to also take advantage of the ongoing We Got You offer, where you pay for your current package and DStv upgrades you to the next higher package at no extra cost. This offer runs till February 28, 2026.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
One of the leading financial services groups in Africa, Guaranty Trust Holding Company (GTCO) Plc, is championing great experiences and heritage by being the main sponsor of NPA Lagos International Polo Tournament.
The competition is one of Africa’s oldest and most prestigious sporting events and for this year’s edition, it will bring together top local and international polo teams and spectators from across the continent and beyond.
The contest commenced on Tuesday, January 27 at the Lagos Polo Club in Ikoyi and will end on Sunday, February 15, 2026.
The 2026 NPA Lagos International Polo Tournament will feature top‑tier teams competing for major prizes, including the Majekodunmi Cup, Independence Cup, Open Cup, Silver Cup and Low Cup, among others.
Guests can expect a fusion of thrilling equestrian action, polo-inspired lifestyle showcase, and curated hospitality experiences. The event will also be livestreamed, allowing audiences online to share in the excitement and spectacle.
Commenting on GTCO’s role as main sponsor of the Lagos International Polo Tournament, the chief executive of the firm, Mr Segun Agbaje, said, “This tournament, one of the oldest in Africa, celebrates not only the noble sport of polo but the values we hold dear as a brand: teamwork, discipline, fair play, and a commitment to excellence.
“Beyond the field, it showcases Nigeria and Africa to a global audience, reinforcing the continent’s place on the world stage. Our longstanding sponsorship of the NPA Lagos International Polo Tournament reflects our conviction that sport can amplify opportunity, foster connections, and deliver world-class experiences for all.”
The NPA Lagos International Polo Tournament has long been celebrated not only for its thrilling competition and equestrian excellence but also for its rich heritage and cultural resonance within Africa’s sporting tradition. GTCO’s sponsorship embodies the Group’s commitment to creating platforms that unite communities and drive social impact across diverse audiences.
If you’re looking for a fun, reliable, and exciting online betting experience in Nigeria, you’re in the right place. PariPesa Nigeria brings together casino entertainment, sports betting, and modern gaming options designed just for you. Let’s break it all down.
Casino Games
At PariPesa Nigeria, the casino lobby is brimming with exciting games. They are split into categories to help you navigate. You can search for titles using the search bar or narrow down the type of game you enjoy using the filter menu on the left-hand side of the page.
The filters on the left let you pick based on provider, feature, theme, and game types. If there is a title you particularly like, you can also favorite it! There are two separate categories of casino entertainment that depend on your individual casino activity. Recent games are all the ones you have tried, and the favorites section, as you can guess, lists the ones you starred.
Take a look at the main categories of games available.
Slots
Slots are the most popular casino games. They’re beginner-friendly, simple to follow, and you can try them for free in demo mode! At PariPesa Nigeria, you’ll find classic, video, and jackpot slots. Some have Nigerian-themed designs, bright colors, and sound effects that bring the experience close to home.
Table games
Are you a blackjack fan or do you prefer to watch the wheel spin in roulette? Either way, PariPesa Nigeria has a large selection of table games for you to choose from. You will find multiple variations of these titles, along with tables with varying betting ranges. Poker has by far the largest number of variants.
Crash games
These games have extremely quick rounds, so understand the mechanics before you place any real money bets. The concept is simple, really: a multiplier increases, and you cash out before an object “crashes.” The longer you wait, the higher your potential win, but if it crashes before you cash out, you lose that round. Aviator, Chicken Crash, and Doodle Crash are among the more popular games in this category.
Live casino games
Those tired of playing against generated algorithms will find live casino games a welcome break. At PariPesa, you can play poker, blackjack, roulette, and more against a live croupier. You can interact with your dealer and watch everything that happens in real time through video streaming. Remember that these tables are time sensitive, so you will have to place your bets before the window closes, and no, you cannot demo these games.
Sports Betting
Nigerians love sports, and what better way is there to be a part of the action than betting? Football is obviously the favorite, but you can also wager on over 150 sports at PariPesa. You can use the in-house statistics to make well informed bets on your preferred teams and players. Furthermore, the betting markets at PariPesa are top-notch.
- Over/Under
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These are only some of the many, many bets you can place.
eSports
eSports are a hit among young Nigerians. Games like FIFA, CS:GO, and Dota 2 have become part of the sports betting market, and they’re big players. Instead of physical matches, you’re betting on professional gamers competing online.
Virtual Sports
If you enjoy sports but want a quick fix, virtual sports are computer-generated matches that run all day, every day. There are no weather issues and no match postponements or player injuries to affect your strategy. Results are decided by certified random systems, so they’re fair and unpredictable.
Responsible Gambling Policy
No matter what, responsible gaming is an important feature of any online casino platform. PariPesa Nigeria takes this policy very seriously, too. This means you’re encouraged to play for fun, not to chase losses or risk money you can’t afford to lose. You can use the following tools to make sure you don’t go overboard.
- Deposit limits
- Self-exclusion between 6 months and 1 year.
- Session limits
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If you ever feel that gambling is becoming a problem, use the resources available online to get help.
PariPesa is synonymous with a complete gaming experience in Nigeria. From casino games and betting to eSports and virtual sports, everything is covered. The navigation is simple, reliable, and let’s be honest, entertaining! So, join PariPesa Nigeria today and enjoy top choices made for people like you!
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