A Promising Horizon: Projections for Nigerian Sports in 2025 – FootBoom

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As Nigeria gears up for an exciting and action-packed sporting calendar, ABIODUN ADEWALE examines the prospects for success in 2025, with an eye on long-term achievement.
The disappointments from Nigerian sports in 2024 underline a critical lesson: success hinges on meticulous preparation, thoughtful planning, and unwavering support for our athletes.
This past year saw Nigeria face heartache in the Africa Cup of Nations in February, alongside a disappointing medal-less participation at the Paris Olympics in August. These experiences should serve as a guide on where our focus must lie as we embark on yet another sporting year in 2025.
Amidst the struggles, the few standout moments—like the remarkable performance of the D’Tigress at the Paris Olympics, Ademola Lookman ascending as a leading figure in African football, and a commendable showing at the 2023 African Games in Ghana—should not be forgotten. However, we must ask ourselves: do these successes reflect a well-functioning system, or were they merely flashes of individual brilliance?
The landscape ahead is brimming with opportunity, as Nigerian athletes are set to compete in no fewer than 10 major championships across football, athletics, basketball, cricket, table tennis, wrestling, and more—sports where the nation has historically excelled, especially within Africa.
Significantly, the much-anticipated 22nd National Sports Festival, labeled the Gateway Games, is scheduled to take place from May 16 to May 30. Meanwhile, zonal eliminations for team sports will be held from February 23 to February 28, 2025. If it goes ahead as planned, this festival will break the ground for Nigerian sports in 2025.
As the year begins, there’s a sense of optimism, especially with the U-19 women’s cricket team preparing to compete in the World Cup in Malaysia from January 18 to February 2. Cricket is rapidly gaining momentum in the country, and the Junior Female Yellow Greens’ participation symbolizes hope. However, caution is needed as stars from the Nigeria Premier Football League will also be fighting for glory at the African Nations Championship in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda from February 1 to February 28.
The crowning event on the horizon for many will be the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, set to unfold in Morocco from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026. Before that, the women’s competition will be held from July 5 to July 26, also in Morocco.
Furthermore, as the football-obsessed nation awaits, the end of 2024 may reveal whether Nigeria will participate in the 2026 FIFA World Cup taking place across the USA, Canada, and Mexico.
In athletics, alongside a busy year for Nigerian athletes, particularly in NCAA competitions, the pinnacle is expected to be the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo from September 13 to September 21. Concurrently, Croatia will host the World Wrestling Championships.
Despite their qualification still uncertain, the men’s national basketball team (D’Tigers) has the AfroBasket lined up from August 12 to August 24 in Angola, while the D’Tigress are also set for their tournament in Ivory Coast from July 25 to August 3.
So, how can Nigeria achieve sporting excellence?
The proposed budget for Nigerian sports in 2025 stands at N78 billion, a significant jump from the N31 billion allocated for 2024. These resources are typically divided among operational costs, salaries, and capital expenditures. Ideally, sports federations should seek to independently fund their tournaments or rely on government support at the eleventh hour.
It is essential that financial constraints do not hinder the National Sports Festival, as the proposed N78 billion budget may not automatically translate to success in 2025. However, initiatives such as the Renewed Hope Initiative for Nigeria’s Sports Economy (RHINSE) recently introduced by the National Sports Commission could pave the way for future success through proper implementation.
According to the NSC, this initiative aims to transform the nation’s sports infrastructure through a Reset, Refocus, and Relaunch agenda, moving from a competition-focused ecosystem to one that emphasizes development and value addition.
NSC Chairman Shehu Dikko emphasized its vision: “The RHINSE initiative goes beyond just infrastructure investment; it aims to redefine sports as a fundamental national asset deserving comprehensive support and legal frameworks to bolster growth. This will serve as a catalyst for unity, cultural enrichment, and economic progress, with the potential to uplift countless youths and communities nationwide.”
The revival of the NSC, initiated by President Bola Tinubu, has been met with widespread acclaim as it seeks to reposition Nigerian sports priorities.
With the NSC laying down policies, it’s crucial for sports federations to step up as the engines driving these initiatives. The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) recognizes that they hold the key to Nigeria’s greatest celebrations in 2025. In a statement released on December 30, NFF President Ibrahim Gusau assured the nation that the various national teams would bring pride to the country in 2025, expressing confidence in their ability to conquer Africa and secure qualification for the 2026 World Cup.
“It’s going to be an action-packed year for us in global football. The NFF is dedicated to collaborating closely with the National Sports Commission to achieve our objectives and garner more corporate support for our initiatives, programs, and events,” Gusau stated. “Our focus will remain on grassroots development and ensuring that the pathways for players advancing to national teams are never compromised.”
Nigerians naturally harbor hope when it comes to sports, but success is never a stroke of luck. If the hard lessons of 2024 have taught us something significant, it’s that optimism must be tempered with realism.
From preparations for the National Sports Festival, there are already signals that Ogun State may struggle to host due to inadequate facilities. However, with more time to prepare, the Gateway Games can rekindle excitement as Governor Dapo Abiodun enlists former world heavyweight boxing champion Anthony Joshua to light the festival’s torch in May.
“I would like to request, not only that we confirm you as our sports ambassador but also that you grace us by lighting the torch for the Gateway Sports Festival,” the Governor urged Anthony Joshua during a meeting on December 30.
Beyond our borders, aspirations soar as Nigerians envision great achievements in 2025.
In basketball, the D’Tigress have a chance to draw strength from their Olympic outing as they defend their AfroBasket title in Ivory Coast, aiming for a fourth consecutive win. Yet, the D’Tigers must first navigate through the qualification process beginning in February.
In athletics, the World Championships promise to be a pivotal event, demanding the Nigeria Athletics Federation and its athletes avoid another disappointing performance like that seen in Budapest 2023 and the Paris Olympics.
The prospect of training grants for track and field stars has emerged as a topic of critical importance. While the NSC appears to have outlined an initiative to assist in this regard, athletes like Ese Brume—who holds the African women’s long jump record—express a desire for more tangible support.
In a recent statement, NSC DG Bukola Olopade shared a moving exchange he had with Brume, illustrating her commitment to winning the World Championships this September.
Tobi Amusan, Nigeria’s pioneering world champion and record holder in the women’s 100m hurdles, has been training under the guidance of Usain Bolt’s coach, Glen Mills, in Jamaica. After a challenging 2024, fans hope to see her return to the podium in 2025.
In football, the AFCON and WAFCON beckon. After a heart-wrenching second-place finish in Ivory Coast, the Super Eagles will look to transform potential into victory in Morocco 2025. Meanwhile, the Super Falcons aim to reclaim their position as Africa’s champions, a goal that coach Justin Madugu is unwaveringly committed to achieving.
“I aspire to build a resilient and victorious team that will reclaim our top position, play with heart, nurture players, and ultimately win the 2025 WAFCON. In the long term, we want to command respect on the global stage,” Madugu expressed to The PUNCH.
Thus, as we look toward 2025, the outlook blends cautious optimism with a commitment to foster a vibrant sports culture in Nigeria that recognizes and celebrates the achievements of its athletes.
The vision for 2025 includes a steadfast commitment to grassroots sports development, focusing on school sports, local tournaments, and scouting systems that can nurture the next generation of athletic talent.
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