Sport has always been a part of Nigerian culture. The pre-colonial riverine communities of the Niger-Delta were famed for their competitive regattas, while wrestling contest were common in village squares all over the country.

British colonial rule encouraged sports competitions, with the Empire day Games serving as occasions for schools within a district or province to compete for laurels in athletics. Field and Track events were the first form of organized sports in the country because they required few specialized facilities.

Development of Football

In Nigeria Organised football, which is a unifying national sport, started in Nigeria in 1945 with the formation of the Nigerian Football Association. The same year saw the commencement of the Governor's Cup (later named the Challenge Cup), which involved clubs from around the country.

Nigeria became a member of FIFA in 1959.To cater for the sophistication in football, the professional league, which currently has 16 clubs, was introduced in 1990. Succeeding administrations have contributed to the development of football in Nigeria through investment in modem stadium facilities and organising competitions through which numerous talents have been discovered.

Currently, Nigeria has an array of players in major leagues around the world; a result of her football development programme. Also, the country has continued to reap from her investment, winning a variety of global laurels. Nigeria has no doubt emerged as a power to reckon with in world football.

Nigeria Football Achievements