Sport
& Activities
| Nigerian
Sports |
| >> Nigeria
Football Team |
Nigerian sports,
though always exercised, was noted first in the
1950s. Nigeria had it's first appearance in the
Helsinki Olympic Games in 1952, and it's first
victory in 1954, when Emmanuel Ifeanjuna won a gold
medal in the high jump at the Commonwealth games in
Cardiff.
In 1962, the Nationals Sports Council was set up,
and in 1971, the National Sports Commission, and
they had the following responsibilities (stated
exactly as is):
- To coordinate and
integrate efforts to raise the standard of
performance in sports in Nigeria.
- To encourage the
development, organization and participation of
sports in Nigeria.
- To make any
arrangements on behalf of the States' Sports
Councils for Competitions, technical assistance,
recruitment of coaches and for any other matters
as the Commission sees fit.
- To promote
physical fitness and general well-being of all
persons in Nigeria
In terms of
football/soccer, the Nigerian Football Federation
was created in 1945. It was the first year that a
competition was organized bringing together clubs
from Lagos, Port Harcourt and Calabar. The
championship was also renamed the Challenge Cup
replacing the Governor's Cup as it had been known
under their British colonizers. It was only several
years later that the Challenge Cup became a national
trophy when other top clubs from different provinces
were invited to play. However, the clubs had to wait
till 1990 for the professional league to be
introduced.
Nigeria emerged on the international football/soccer
scene in 1960 when it first entered the World Cup,
but failed to qualify for the finals. It eventually
qualified for the 1970 World Cup in Mexico. The
Nigerian National League began in 1972 when five
teams entered the league. This grew to 12 teams by
1978.
Locally within Nigeria, there are many sporting
clubs that one can join. |
Watersports:
The
numerous beaches offer bathing, although many have
strong currents and bathers should not swim far from the
shore, especially in Lagos. Many of the better hotels have
pools. Good river and sea angling is available
throughout the country.
Wildlife:
Yankari
National Park, in the eastern half of the country, is
particularly good for birdwatching. Animals which
can be viewed here include elephants, crocodiles and
monkeys. Nigeria’s largest national park, the Gashaka
Game Reserve near Yola, also provides opportunities to
view birds and animals.
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