Two recent developments in USA’s National Basketball Association (NBA) got me thinking all through the week, and I just couldn’t help but yell to myself, ‘Nigeria surely has talent.’
Someone would argue that the players I’m about to celebrate in the NBA may only have Nigerian names (Bam Adebayo and OG Anunoby) or just parents from Nigeria (Giannis Antetokounmpo), but I still choose to flaunt them as indigenes of our dear country because our blood is in them.
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Be they Nigeria-born (those whose birth was in Nigeria, but they now compete for foreign countries) or Nigerian-born (whose birth was overseas but to Nigerian parents), I feel what we should flaunt is the blood of our ancestors and country flowing through their veins.
So, I doff my hat to Ogugua Anunobi (stylised as Anunoby) for emerging as an NBA champion with New York Knicks, who are (incidentally) handled by former D’Tigers of Nigeria coach, Mike Brown. I also celebrate the mega-money transfer by Sina Ugo Adetokunbo (now known as Giannis Antetokounmpo) to join Edrice Femi ‘Bam’ Adebayo at a leading NBA franchise, Miami Heat.
For me, the fact that they all have Nigerian blood running through their veins confirms for me that this country is indeed blessed with a lot of sporting talents (who can make things happen for any country they represent).
Whether they wear our green-and-white colours, whether they recognise us or not, let’s identify with them and flaunt them.
This is why Gloria Alozie should be celebrated in Nigeria, despite her dumping us and switching to Italy, why should we still respect Francis Obikwelu (despite his ‘transfer’ to Portugal) and recognition should be accorded Bahrain’s Salwa Eid Nassar (formerly known as Ebelechukwu Antoinette Agbapuonwu).
Same goes for two Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) stars – Israel Adesanya of New Zealand and Kamaru Usman of USA. As it were, I am happy that we all hail Daniel Igali for returning to Nigeria after winning wrestling gold medals for Canada and Anthony Olaseni Oluwafemi Joshua has accolades all the time for identifying with his parents country (regardless of the accident that almost claimed his life on 29th of December 2025 near Sagamu).
In recent years, Bukayo Saka, Dele Ali, Gabriel Agbonlahor, Dominic Solanke and Ugo Ehiogu have also identified with Nigeria, despite their decisions to play for England at senior level.
I took another look at the unfolding scenario at the 2026 FIFA World Cup and wondered at the far-reaching impact of Nigerian talent, as 16 of our ‘sons’ are lining out for other countries, thereby giving us lots to cheer in the absence of our darling Super Eagles at this year’s Mundial … and hoping one of them finally wins the cup.
Saka is joined by Noni Madueke and Eberechi Eze in England’s squad, while Austria has David Alaba and Carney Chukwuemeka, with Promise David, Owen Goodman and Tani Oluwaseyi there for Canada as well as Felix Nmecha and Jamal Musiala for Germany.
Others are Michael Olise (France), Folarin Balogun (USA), Antonio Nusa (Norway), Ime Okon (South Africa) as well as Manuel Akanji and Noah Okafor (Switzerland). Talk about Nigerian names and blood making things happen for other countries – why shouldn’t we be proud?
However, while there are 16 Nigerian-born players starring at the ongoing World Cup, there are many others who are equally good, though not gracing this year’s global football showpiece.
Step out for recognition Manu Omorodion (Spain), Karim Adeyemi (Germany), Patrick Dorgu (Denmark), Gavin Bazunu (Ireland), Dominic Solanke (England), Destiny Udogie (Italy), Noah Atubolu (Germany) and many others who are currently splashed across the glittering world of football.
All of these examples crop up to fully confirm that Nigeria indeed has talents. Correlatively, I hereby highlight that Nigerian-born talents abound not just in football but also in every other sport the world over. Not just young men making things happen for their adopted countries, but also tender ladies as well.
Back to basketball, and even USA’s women’s league has them aplenty, from Arike Ogunbowale to Nneka Ogwumike, Okikiola ‘Kiki’ Iraefen, Micheala Onyenwere, Elizabeth ‘Ezi’ Olatayo, Titi Fagbenle and many others. They have proven that Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) is equally saturated with Nigerian blood.
Yes, Nigeria’s got talent! Just take another look at various competitions and terrains across the world, then it would truly amaze you to know the large array of talents with Nigerian origin who are making waves in different sporting endeavours.
Even Australia has a female basketball star (Eziyoda Magbegbor), while other players of Nigerian origin who have made their marks in the NBA include Precious Achiuwa, Chimezie Metu, Ugonna Onyeso, Felix Okpara, Masai Ujiri, Otega Oweh, Ebuka Okorie, Onyeka Okongwu, Chukwuebuka ‘Zuby’ Ejiofor, Hakeem Olajuwon (The Dream) and many others.
USA’s National Football League (NFL) will not be left out with its fair share of Nigerian presence. It’s called American Football over there, yet we also have Nigerian-born players doing it in droves – Uar Bernard, Odafe Oweh, Joseph Ossai, David Ojabo, Boye Mafe, Uchenna Nwosu, Olusegun Oluwatomi, Nick Emmanwori, Rome Odunze, David Njoku and Emmanuel Ogbah all stand out to be counted.
For the milder version, which happens to be rugby, we have present and former England internationals – Maro Itoje, Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, Ben Obano, Max Ojomoh, Ayoola Erinle, Victor Ubogu, Bright Sodje and Abdul Buhari. Still in the UK, aside the well celebrated presence of Anthony Joshua, it’s enchanting to know that Great Britain’s fastest rising boxer – Moses Itauma – has a Nigerian father, while another former heavyweight champion of the world, Daniel Dubois has a Nigerian mother. One of their biggest rivals – Lawrence Okolie – also has Nigerian ancestry.
The mention of Great Britain takes us to track and field, where Philip Idowu and Christine Ohuruogu both held sway in the past, then handed the reins over to equally formidable stars of the present who have won Olympic medals for the country of their birth (with Nigerian names to boot). All hail Lawrence Okoye in field events and Victoria Ohuoruogu on the tracks, just as Yemisi Ogunleye shines for Germany in shot put and Annette Echikunwoke does it for USA in hammer throw.
Dramatically, Nigerian names were ringing loud in all three medal categories of women’s volleyball at the last Olympic Games in Paris, France – Loveth Omoruyi (Italy, gold), Chika Ogbogu (USA, silver) and Barthelemy Chinenyeze (France, bronze). Wow, everywhere you go in world sports you’re sure to see a Nigerian name there. Isn’t our country blessed?
Indeed, we are, which is why a popular expression states that there is no country in the world that does not have a talented sports star or two of Nigerian descent doing wonders for them. Someone then added, “Why can’t they come and perform the same wonders for Nigeria?”
I have two answers to that: Not every talent born abroad can represent their parents’ country; and the quality of training they get overseas – with high standard equipment – makes it easier for them to excel internationally than it would have been had they opted to represent Nigeria.
