Sunday 11th February 2024How Nigerian Athletes Are Staying Connected to their Roots
By Peter Adeyemo - @adebayor.x 🌍
From the proud chants of Kanu Nwankwo and Jay-Jay Okocha in the 1990s, to the fiery battle cries for Osimhen, Oshoala and Anthony Joshua, over the past few decades, Nigerian athletes have increased in visibility across numerous sporting professions. But the athletic superstars from the 90s were not just local champions as many might think; these were highly sought after players in the international market, with Kanu playing for teams like Arsenal and West Bromwich, and Okocha playing for the likes of PSG and Eintracht Frankfurt.
Decades later, the pride these personalities instilled in Nigerians back home is being carried on by a new generation of sports superstars, from football and basketball to mixed martial arts and track & field. Not only do athletes like Giannis Antetokounmpo, Asisat Oshoala and Victor Osimhen carry the torch of success, they mirror their predecessors by never losing sight of where they come from. Their lifestyles, principles, mannerisms, and relationships are laced with the Nigerianness that runs in the blood of the citizens of the country. In interviews, media rounds, pre/post game conferences, they are intentional with the ways they carry the Nigerian spirit and pay homage to their roots.
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From the proud chants of Kanu Nwankwo and Jay-Jay Okocha in the 1990s, to the fiery battle cries for Osimhen, Oshoala and Anthony Joshua, over the past few decades, Nigerian athletes have increased in visibility across numerous sporting professions. But the athletic superstars from the 90s were not just local champions as many might think; these were highly sought after players in the international market, with Kanu playing for teams like Arsenal and West Bromwich, and Okocha playing for the likes of PSG and Eintracht Frankfurt.
Decades later, the pride these personalities instilled in Nigerians back home is being carried on by a new generation of sports superstars, from football and basketball to mixed martial arts and track & field. Not only do athletes like Giannis Antetokounmpo, Asisat Oshoala and Victor Osimhen carry the torch of success, they mirror their predecessors by never losing sight of where they come from. Their lifestyles, principles, mannerisms, and relationships are laced with the Nigerianness that runs in the blood of the citizens of the country. In interviews, media rounds, pre/post game conferences, they are intentional with the ways they carry the Nigerian spirit and pay homage to their roots.
