5 Most influential Nigerian women in sports

The last few months have been amazing for Nigerian women in different sports, the nation has produced several influential female sportspersons who have made significant contributions to the sport both domestically and internationally.

These female sports personnel have not only excelled on the pitch but have also served as role models and inspiration for aspiring young players in Nigeria and beyond. Their impact extends beyond the game, empowering women and promoting the growth of women's sports in Nigeria.

Here are some of the women who have written their names in the sand of time:

Asisat Oshoala

The former Barcelona player is one of the most influential women in sports in Nigeria following her contribution to the game both on and off the pitch. Oshoala has inspired a lot of young girls in the country who are looking to make a name for themselves in the beautiful game of football.

She was nominated for the 2023 Women’s Ballon d’Or in September, and three months later, she won the African Women’s Footballer of the Year for the sixth time.

Mimisen Iyorhe

The Nigerian referee has also been in the limelight in the past couple of years but she made history in 2021 as the first Nigerian woman to officiate a CAF senior men’s football tournament during the African Nations Championship. Additionally, she served as one of the FIFA Women’s World Cup officials in 2023.

Mimisen founded the “Goal Bound Sports Initiative,” which encourages young girls to participate in sports. Talk about a girl’s girl.

Gbemisola Abudu

Gbemisola Abudu needs no introduction when it comes to basketball in Africa, she returned to her passion for basketball after she had worked in the corporate industry for so many years.

She is the current vice president of NBA Africa and the NBA Nigeria Country Lead. She is also the youngest and only black woman to run a league office. In 2022, she was listed as one of Sports Illustrated’s 100 Most Influential Black Women in Sports in the World.

Tobi Amusan

Oluwatobiloba Amusan put Nigeria's name on the map when it comes to the 100-meter hurdles at the 2018 Commonwealth Games, setting a Games record in the process and has not looked back since that day.

Tobi currently holds the world record in the 100-meter hurdles, having clocked a time of 12.12 seconds. She achieved this feat during the semi-final of the women’s 100-meter hurdles in 2022, hosted in Eugene, Oregon making her the first Nigerian to claim a world record in athletics.

The 26-year-old is currently the African and Commonwealth champion in the 100-meter hurdle. In 2021, she won the Diamond League title. She defended this title in 2022 and 2023 and retained it, making her a three-time Diamond League holder. She has also influenced a lot of young women in Nigeria and around the continent who are looking to get into Athletics.

Favour Ofili

The 20-year-old is also writing her name in the stars when it comes to the world of Athletics. She broke into the limelight at the 2019 African Under-18 Championships, where she won both the 200- and 400-meter races.

The Tom Jones Memorial race will always remain memorable for Favour as she sprinted the 200 meters in an incredible 21.96 seconds. This made her the first Nigerian and the second African woman to achieve this feat in under 22 seconds.

At the Tiger Paw Invitational in Clemson, South Carolina, U.S., in February 2023, she set a new record for Louisiana State University (LSU) with a time of 22.36 seconds. She became the sixth fastest woman in the world and the second in U.S. Collegiate history.