by Okoeguale Adolor
Nigerian athletes have delivered remarkable performances across various sports globally in 2024, showcasing exceptional achievements on international stages, with Ademola Lookman recently being named the CAF African Footballer of the Year as a standout highlight.
These athletes exemplify Nigeria’s brilliance and resilience, breaking records and excelling in football leagues, athletics, boxing, and rugby.
Here’s a closer look at the top 10 Nigerian athletes of 2024:
Ademola Lookman (Football)
Ademola Lookman enjoyed an extraordinary 2024, solidifying his place among Nigeria’s finest athletes. The Atalanta forward shone in Serie A and capped a stellar season by winning the 2024 Confederation of African Football (CAF) African Footballer of the Year award, becoming the sixth Nigerian to achieve this honour.
Lookman was pivotal in Atalanta’s Europa League triumph, delivering a sensational hat-trick in the final to secure the title. On the international stage, he netted three goals at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Côte d’Ivoire, helping Nigeria to a runner-up finish.
Kanyinsola Ajayi (Sprint)
Kanyinsola Ajayi achieved a dream season in 2024, starting with gold in the men’s 60m at the SEC Championships in February. Outdoors, he set a personal best of 10.01s to claim bronze in the 100m at the NCAA Championships and helped his team secure gold in the 4x100m relay.
Ajayi won his first national title at Nigeria’s Olympic Trials with a 10.14s finish, earning a spot at the African Championships, where he placed fourth individually and anchored the men’s 4x100m team to a silver medal. At the Spitzen Leichtathletik Meet in Luzern, he ran a personal best of 10.00s. At the Paris Olympics, he stunned defending champion Marcell Jacobs by winning his heat and reached the semi-finals, also competing in the 4x100m relay.
William Troost-Ekong (Football)
Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong delivered exceptional performances in 2024, earning the Player of the Tournament title at AFCON 2023. His leadership helped Nigeria achieve one of their best AFCON campaigns in over a decade.
Troost-Ekong’s performances earned him a nomination for FIFA’s 2024 Best XI, further cementing his place as one of the world’s top defenders.
Ese Brume (Track and Field)
Ese Brume, Africa’s undefeated long jump queen, continued her dominance in 2024. The African record-holder started her season with a 6.58m jump at the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix, securing third place. She later achieved a 6.84m season’s best at the Howie Ryan Invitational.
Brume defended her African Games title with a wind-aided 6.92m jump and won her fourth African Athletics Championship title with a historic leap. At the Paris Olympics, she led Nigeria’s strong showing in the women’s long jump, finishing fifth for the country’s best result in the event.
Chukwuebuka Enekwechi (Track and Field – Shot Put)
Chukwuebuka Enekwechi continued to dominate shot put in Africa, raising his own records in 2024. He set an African indoor record with a 21.63m throw and achieved a new Nigerian record of 21.91m at the Prefontaine Classic.
Enekwechi successfully defended his African Games title and won gold at the African Championships in Cameroon. He also placed sixth at both the World Indoor Championships and the Paris Olympics.
Chiamaka Nnadozie (Football)
Chiamaka Nnadozie cemented her reputation as one of the world’s best goalkeepers in 2024, winning CAF Best Goalkeeper for the second consecutive year. Her stellar performances at the FIFA Women’s World Cup and Paris Olympics were instrumental in the Super Falcons’ success.
Her club and international achievements, marked by heroic saves and leadership, have solidified her legacy as an icon of Nigerian women’s football.
Victor Boniface (Football)
Victor Boniface emerged as a key player for Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga, helping the club secure their first-ever league title during the 2023–2024 season. With 20 goals in 33 league matches and 31 goals in 34 games across all competitions, Boniface became one of Europe’s most feared strikers.
His prolific form has already sparked transfer interest from top clubs, including Chelsea, ahead of 2025.
These athletes are shining examples of Nigeria’s exceptional talent and determination on the global stage.
