This year no be small matter for Naija sports o! As we dey enter 2026, make we reflect on how 2025 take be.

First, make we talk about the Super Falcons. Dem don show say dem no be joke! Dem collect dia 10th WAFCON title with serious comeback wey deserved like plenty eba and egusi. Trailing 2-0 against Morocco, dem still manage turn the table! Esther Okoronkwo, Folashade Ijamilusi, and Jeniffer Echegini, na dem be the real MVPs! President Tinubu no slack as he reward dem with national honours, land, and even $100,000. Na wa!

Next level na D’Tigress, dem also dey shine like star! Dey don win dia fifth consecutive AfroBasket title. Dem beat Mali 78-64 like say dem sabi this game pass dem mates. With this win, dem don qualify for 2026 FIBA World Cup. Talk about domination!

And how we go forget the cricket girls? Na our Junior Female Yellow Greens wey dey set history. Dem finish 6th for ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, even beat New Zealand and Ireland. Na real wah! Naija dey come up for cricket! And our Tobi Amusan no dey play too as she collect silver for 100m hurdles at World Athletics Championships, too much celebration abeg.

But wetin be all dis good without some wahala? Super Eagles no show for the 2026 World Cup after dem miss am for penalty shootout against DR Congo. Na so dem go stay on bench dey watch another match again. E pain me! Our youth teams come join am for groove as dem all miss their own competitions sharp sharp. From Flamingos to Golden Eaglets, all of dem no fit meet up. Na serious matter!

Then talk about D’Tigers, the men’s basketball team, dem just dey underperform too. Fifth place for AfroBasket no be wetin we expect at all. Chai! Wetin happen to our flag?

As we dey reflect, our infrastructure no dey allow us shine small. Na only Uyo and Abuja stadiums dey okay for international matches, while others dey gather dust. National Stadium for Lagos still dey closed, after five years, as if na ghost dey go play there. NFF dey face wahala after FIFA carry dem half-finished stadium showcase dem, na serious embarrassment.

But amidst all these wahala, some good plans dey come. Former Lagos Governor Fashola talk say e get master plan wey go fit tackle all dis issues. E talk say sports fit help solve youth unemployment if government fit just commit. Let’s just dey hope say this go work.

Finally, make we no forget family support for Ivar Stenberg, our upcoming star wey dey shine for Sweden. As we dey dey loose some athletes, dem still dey bring some young blood for our national teams. Hope dey for the future! 2025 don show us say e get bright sides and dark sides. Make we play am well as we enter new year with fresh hope and mad energy!