The year 2018 can be said to be an eventful year as there were series of sporting events which Nigeria took part either as the host or as participant.
The following are the major sporting events of 2018.
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, comprising both males and females who represented Nigeria at the competition.
2. 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.
3. Russia 2018 World Cup
The FIFA World Cup is arguably the world’s biggest sporting event on the calendar for the year. And the national team, Super Eagles participated for the sixth time but were booted out of the tournament during the group stages by Argentina.
Nigeria has never gone beyond the Second Round in previous editions attended.
4. Senior Africa Athletics championships
For 29 years, Nigeria was snubbed from hosting this championship after it hosted the flagship event in Lagos in 1989.
Asaba in Delta State was however, chosen to host the 21st edition of the Confederation of African Athletics (CAA) Senior Championships tagged ‘Asaba 2018’ from August 1 to 5 2018.
5. U-20 Women’s World Cup
The age grade FIFA organised tourney for women took place in France from 5–24 August 2018 and was won by Japan.
The Christopher Danjuma-led team made it to the quarter finals losing 2-1 to Spain.
6. 2018 African Women Cup of Nations
The Super Falcons extended their supremacy on the African continent by defeating South Africa on penalties to win this years’ edition for the third consecutive time in Ghana.
With the victory, the Falcons had been to the final nine times out of 11 and lost none and will represent Africa at the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup in France.
7. 19th National Sports Festival
Against all odds, the Games often dubbed ‘Nigerian Olympics’ was staged in FCT, Abuja between December 6 -16, 2018 after 6 years absence. It was last staged in Lagos in 2012.
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