In 2017, some teams made Nigeria proud, excelling in national team colours.
Most genres of sports are played by a group of individuals who make up a team. Individuals who are responsible for themselves and take the shame and glory for their wins and loses respectively.
In 2017, some teams made Nigeria proud, excelling in national team colours.
These are five of the teams in no particular order.
1. Nigerian Bobsled Women Team
What year it has been for the trio of Seun Adigun, Ngozi Onwumere and Akuoma Omeoga. The Bobsled team with sheer passion and determination started a go-fund-me account to fund their dream of being the first Nigerians at the Winter Olympics.
A year later, their dreams became were fulfilled as they qualified for the 2018 Winter Games in Pyeongchang after completing completed races in Utah, Whistler and Calgary during the qualifiers.
Their appearance together on prime US Talk Show, The Ellen Show was also a high point of their 2017.
2. Super Eagles
ALSO READ: Super Eagles beat Argentina in 2017
After a few years of underwhelming results coupled with failure to qualify for the last two Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournaments, the Super Eagles are finally displaying performances reminiscent of the glory days of Nigerian football.
Contrary to the fears of Nigerians when they draws were made, the Super Eagles breezed through a tough Group B that had Zambia, Cameroon and Algeria to qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
The 4-0 win over Cameroon in August and the 1-0 win over Zambia in October ensured that the Super Eagles were the first African team to qualify for the 2018 World Cup.
And there was that impressive 4-2 win over Argentina in a November friendly game. Bring on the World Cup.
3. D’Tigers
Despite a failure to defend their Afrobasket title, Nigeria’s men’s senior basketball team, D’Tigers were impressive in 2017.
They got to the final of the 2017 Afrobasket tournament hosted by Tunisia and Senegal but lost in the final to eventual champions Tunisia.
D’Tigers, however, recovered to beat Cote d’Ivoire 21-9 to emerge champions of maiden men’s category of the 2017 FIBA 3×3 Africa Cup.
4. D’Tigress
What the men could not do, Nigeria’s Women senior basketball team did in style, winning Women’s AfroBasket title
The Nigerian women beat defeated Senegal in the final in August to win the Women’s Basketball title at the tournament hosted by Mali.
Courtesy of progressing to the Final, the D’Tigress also qualified for the 2018 FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup in Spain.
5. Plateau United
Plateau United shocked many by running away with the 2017 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL), the first league title in their 422-year-history.
The Jos-based club was solid all through the 2016.2017 season, maintaining a top-two position on the NPFL table from matchday two to the final day when they clinched the title.
The Kennedy Boboye-led side finished the season with 66 points-19 wins, nine draws, 10 losses, scored 49 goals and conceded 25.