List of Nigerian sportspeople
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List of Nigerian sportspeople includes notable sportsman of the country.
American football
- Isaiah Ekejiuba – Oakland Raiders
- Samkon Gado – St. Louis Rams
- Israel Idonije – Chicago Bears
- Amobi Okoye – Houston Texans
- Christian Okoye – Kansas City Chiefs
- Jeff Otah – Carolina Panthers
- Iheanyi Uwaezuoke – San Francisco 49ers
Association football
- 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
- Leicester City
Athletics
- Blessing Okagbere – track and field athlete [2][3]
- Chioma Ajunwa – first Nigerian Olympic gold medalist (long jump)
- Olusoji Fasuba – sprinter
Basketball
- Kenny Adeleke (born 1983) – basketball player
- 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
- Israel Basketball Premier League
- 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
- Israeli Premier Basketball Leagueplayer
- 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
- Israel Basketball Premier League
Boxing
- 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
- Anthony Njokuani
- Israel Adesanya
- Kamaru Usman
- Muhammed Lawal – former Strikeforce world light-heavyweight champion
References
- ^ "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.