The yr 2020 didn’t go in addition to anticipated, primarily because of the results of the coronavirus pandemic. Nevertheless, regardless of the closure of some sporting occasions, a variety of Nigerians within the nation and the diaspora carried out extraordinarily properly of their numerous sporting disciplines. They’ve scratched the floor and made manner for different potential Nigerian stars whereas making the nation proud.
From the world of boxing to the world of soccer, martial arts and even desk tennis, these athletes have made outstanding efforts of their disciplines and altered the face of sports activities for Nigerians within the yr 2020.
These are a number of the athletes who influenced Nigerian sports activities within the yr 2020. Inform us which athlete you suppose we missed.
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1. Anthony Joshua
British Nigerian boxer Anthony Oluwafemi Olaseni Joshua is unquestionably the most important Nigerian character this yr. He had a great 2020. Regardless of a loss to Andy Ruiz Jr. in 2019 he returned and shocked his opponent with a outstanding victory within the rematch at Late final yr it was additionally reported in Saudi Arabia that he had received a whopping £46 million and had an excellent fortune of $80 million.
AJ retained his WBA, WBO and IBF heavyweight titles in December 2020, when he defeated Kubrat Pulev at Wembley to earn £6-10 million.
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The Ring Journal and Transactional Boxing Rankings Board ranked Anthony Joshua because the world's second-best lively heavyweight in April 2020.
Joshua has some nice endorsement offers with Below Armour, Jaguar, Altitude Masks, StubHub, Sky Sports activities, Beats by Dre, AJ Elite Sequence, Lynx, BXR Gymnasium, Lucozade, Texo Development, Dafabet, Audemars Piguet, British Airways, Hugo Boss. AJ left Showtime in 2018 and landed a large $1 billion deal between his promoter, Matchroom Sports activities, and streaming service DAZN.
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2. Israel Adesanya
Nigerian-born New Zealand skilled combined martial artist Israel Oluwafemi Owolabi Adesanya aka 'The Final Stylebender' additionally had an unbelievable 2020. He defended his title for the primary time in March the place he defeated Yoel Romero to win over $540,000 deserved. He additionally defeated Paulo Costa in September, incomes as much as $600,000. This victory earned him his fifth Efficiency of the Night time award.
Along with his win towards Paulo Costa he maintained his undefeated document of 20 wins. His 2020 yr was summed up when he turned the winner of MMA's 'Worldwide Fighter of the Yr' award.
Adesanya has a internet price of round $2 million (£1.6 million). He has an endorsement cope with Peak Milk and likewise has his personal clothes line known as 'Have interaction'.
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3.Victor Osimhen
Nigerian footballer Victor James Osimhen from Naples rose to fame final yr when he moved from Lille to Napoli for a whopping €71.2 million with an extra €10.1 million taking the payment to €81.3 million; this makes him the costliest African in historical past.
He had 24 objectives for Lille, the place he had 18 objectives and 6 assists in 38 appearances in all competitions. He received the Participant of the Season award in Lille and went on to win the Marc-Vivien Foe Award given to the very best African participant in Ligue 1.
He has additionally set the tempo at Napoli and has been accountable for three objectives for Naples in eight video games. He signed a five-year contract with Napoli in September 2020, the place he earns €101,626 per week and €5,000,000 per yr.
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4. Asisat Oshoala
Supervalken and FC Barcelona Femení star, Asisat Lamina Oshoala, have been an inspiration for girls's soccer in Nigeria and brought it to the entire world. Since her transfer to FC Barcelona Femení in January 2019, she has been on hearth, scoring twelve objectives in twelve video games this season.
The 26-year-old additionally has her personal basis known as “Basis Football4girls Championship” and the 2020 version occurred from December 1 to three. The match, sponsored by Emzor Prescribed drugs in collaboration with the Lagos State Sports activities Fee, is normally performed as an eight-on-eight match in a knockout format for the highest prize of $1,000.
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5. Giannis Antetokounmpo
Greek-Nigerian skilled basketball participant Giannis Sina Antetokounmpo had an amazing 2020 along with his staff, Milwaukee Bucks. He’s the reigning two-time NBA Most Beneficial Participant (2019 and 2020 awards). He additionally received the NBA Defensive Participant of the Yr award that very same season, becoming a member of Hakeem Olajuwon and Michael Jordan as the one gamers to win it in the identical season, changing into the third participant to perform the feat within the historical past of the competitors.
In response to Basketball Reference, the 26-year-old completed the season with a single-season NBA Participant Effectivity Ranking (PER) document at 31.87. In December 2020, he signed a five-year, $228 million greenback extension, the biggest in league historical past. The deal additionally contains an opt-out within the fourth yr.
In response to Forbes, he has a internet price of $47.6 million and earns roughly $19 million from his endorsement offers. Its main sponsors additionally embody 2K Sports activities, Hulu and Nike.
6. Joseph Job
Former Nigerian worldwide footballer Joseph Micheal Yobo had an amazing 2020. In February, the NFF introduced his appointment as the brand new assistant coach beneath Gernot Rohr following the dismissal of Imama Amapakabo.
His inclusion within the teaching staff got here as a shock to many; he was additionally labeled because the staff's future head coach by the NFF president. After his appointment, he began when Nigeria performed throughout the worldwide break and helped the Tremendous Eagles with three attracts and one defeat in 4 matches.
7. Enku Ekuta
Akwa Ibom-born Judoka Enku Ekuta has additionally had an amazing 2020 in her self-discipline. She received her first gold medal on the continental open in 2020 when she made Nigeria proud on the fourth African Judo Open. The African Judo Open occurred in Dakar, Senegal, the place she defeated 2019 African Video games champion Helene Dombeu of Cameroon within the closing.
Her victory within the closing added 100 IJF World Rating factors to her profile as she continues to build up factors to safe her qualification for the 2021 Summer time Olympics to be held in Tokyo, Japan.
