By Harry Awurumibe, Editor Abuja Bureau
Nigeria’s first individual Olympic Games Gold medallist, Chioma Ajunwa; business mogul Aliko Dangote and Super Eagles class of 1980, 1994 as well as Atlanta ’96 Olympics Dream Team made the final list of 60 Nigerian Sports Icons list.
The list which was unveiled Friday during the celebration of Nigeria’s Most Oustanding Sports Icons of the last 60 years at the Velodrome of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium Abuja, was dominated by Footballers, Track and Field athletes
and Boxing. The pictures of the Icons will be on display for 60 days.
According to the Federal Ministry of Sports and Youth Development, the organizers of the event, votes cast to pick the Oustanding Stars which was through various platforms just as Super Eagles legends like Chairman Christian Chukwu, Mathematical Segun Odegbami and multi-award winner Nwankwo Kanu as well as his Atlanta ’96 Dream Team mates, Austin Jay-Jay Okocha, Daniel Amokachi, Garba Lawal and Emmanuel Amunike were selected by a wide spectrum of Nigerians.
of the famed 1994 and Atlanta 1996 Dream Team were selected by a wide spectrum of Nigerians.
Also selected by the participants in the online voting exercise are the 1980 Green Eagles that won Nigeria’s maiden African Nations Cup on home soil with legendary goalkeeper, Emmanuel Okala and midfielder, Mudashiru Lawal also picked as symbol of the 1980 Green Eagles.
The Golden Eaglets class of 1985 that featured the likes of Captain Nduka Ugbade and Victor Igbinoba and tutored by coach Sebastian Brodricks – Imasuen were also recognised.
The list also has Nigeria’s first Olympics medallist Nojeem Maiyegun, a boxer; Athletics legends Mary Onyali-Omagbemi, late Policeman Sunday Bada; Commonwealth Games Medalists Olawunmi Majekodunmi and Samuel Igun.
Ex-world boxing champions-Hoggan Kid Bassey, Dick Tiger-Ihetu; ex- Sprinter Chidi Imoh and international female Wrestler Odunayo Adekuruoye also made the list.
Legendary footballer Teslim Thunder Balogun, Ace radio commentators- late Ernest Okonkwo; veteran sports journalist Dr Larry Izamoje and renowned
sports philanthropists- Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Chief Adebutu Kesington and late Pillar of Sports in Africa Chief Moshood Abiola among other sports personalities made the 60 Icons list.
Meanwhile, some of the dignitaries who graced the occasion are: Engr. Abubakar Aliyu FNSE – Hon. Minister of State Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, Otunba Niyi Adebayo(CON) – Hon. Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment and Dr. Senator Adeleke – Hon. Minister of State for Health.
Others are Dr. (Mrs.) Ahmed S. Zainab – Hon. Minister of Finance Budget and National Planning, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola(FMI) – Minister Interior and Sharon Ikpeazor – Minister of State for Environment.
Below are the full names of the 60 Sports Icons unveiled at the event:
- Chioma Ajunwa
- Mary Onyali
- Jighere Wellington
- Odion Aikhoje
- Duncan Dokiware
- Austin Okocha
- Kanu Nwankwo
- Feyisetan Are
- Blessing Okagbare
- Garba Lawal
- Lucy Ejike
- Falilat Ogunkoya/Atlanta 96 Women’s 4x400m Quartet
- Sunday Bada/Sydney 2000 Men’s 4x400m Quartet
- Football Dream Team, Atlanta 1996 Olympics
- Emmanuel Amunike
- Chika Chukwumeriji
- Davidson Ezinwa
- Odunayo Adekuoroye
- Modupe Oshikoya
- Peter Konyegwachie
- Olusoji Fasuba
- Nduka Ugbade/Sebastine Broadricks Emasuen/1985 GOLDEN EAGLETS
- Hogan Bassey
- Dick Tiger
- Samuel Peters
- Barcelona 92′ quartet (Men’s 4x100m Relay)
- Funke Oshonaike
- Segun Odegbami
- D’Tigress
- Segun Toriola
- Roland Ezuruike
- Mayegun Nojeem
- SAM IGUN
- Israel Adesanya
- Super Eagles 1994
- Olumide Oyedeji
- Blessing Oborududu
- Tompraba Grikpa
- Chidi Imoh
- Christian Chukwu
- Ajibola Adeoye
- Stephen Keshi
- Atanda Musa
- Muda Lawal/Emmanuel Okala/Green Eagles 1980
- Daniel Amokachi
- Rashidi Yekini
- Teslim Thunder Balogun
- Perpetual Nkwocha
- Super Falcons
- Power Mike
- Flora Ugwunwa
- Lauretta Onye
- Sam Okwaraji
- Nduka Odizor
- David Izonrite
- Chief MKO Abiola
- Dr. Larry Izamoje
- Mazi. Ernest Okonkwo
- Alh. Aliko Dangote
- Chief Sir Kesington Adebutu
