Best Nigerian Athletes (2026): Compare & Vote
Celebrate Nigerian sporting figures across generations and disciplines, including Olympic, professional and Paralympic sport. Explore their profiles and vote for your favourite athlete for free.
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Choose your favourite
59,619 votes · updating…
| Vote position | Image | Choice | Votes | Your choice |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  | Tobi Amusan Nigerian track-and-field athlete specialising in the sprint hurdles. Source | 9,410 | |
| 2 |  | Victor Osimhen Nigerian international footballer who plays as a striker. Source | 8,702 | |
| 3 |  | Hakeem Olajuwon Nigerian-born basketball Hall of Famer and former NBA centre. Source | 8,142 | |
| 4 |  | Nwankwo Kanu Retired Nigerian international footballer who played as a forward. Source | 7,639 | |
| 5 |  | Israel Adesanya Nigerian-born New Zealand mixed martial artist and former UFC middleweight champion. Source | 6,851 | |
| 6 |  | Dick Tiger Late Nigerian boxer and former world champion in two weight divisions. Source | 5,283 | |
| 7 | Chioma Ajunwa Retired Nigerian athlete and Olympic long-jump gold medallist. Source | 4,317 | ||
| 8 |  | Austin “Jay-Jay” Okocha Retired Nigerian international footballer known for creative midfield play. Source | 3,925 | |
| 9 | Lucy Ejike Nigerian Paralympic powerlifter and multiple Paralympic gold medallist. Source | 3,156 | ||
| 10 |  | Asisat Oshoala Nigerian international footballer who plays as a forward. Source | 2,194 |
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Photo credits
- Hakeem Olajuwon: Courtesy of Special Collections, University of Houston Libraries · Public domain. Resized and converted for thumbnail display; no endorsement implied.
- Austin “Jay-Jay” Okocha: Кирилл Венедиктов · CC BY-SA 3.0. Resized and converted for thumbnail display; no endorsement implied.
- Tobi Amusan: Martin Rulsch , Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0. Resized and converted for thumbnail display; no endorsement implied.
- Dick Tiger: Unknown author Unknown author · Public domain (Italy and United States; see source). Resized and converted for thumbnail display; no endorsement implied.
- Nwankwo Kanu: Chensiyuan; derivative crop by Danyele · CC BY-SA 4.0. Resized and converted for thumbnail display; no endorsement implied.
- Asisat Oshoala: Hameltion · CC BY-SA 4.0. Resized and converted for thumbnail display; no endorsement implied.
- Israel Adesanya: MMMAnytt · CC BY 3.0. Resized and converted for thumbnail display; no endorsement implied.
- Victor Osimhen: Liondartois · CC BY-SA 4.0. Resized and converted for thumbnail display; no endorsement implied.
Compare the choices at a glance
Listed for comparison; this table does not assign a second ranking. Check current details with the linked source.
| Choice | Published offering / context | Location / coverage | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hakeem Olajuwon | Nigerian-born basketball Hall of Famer and former NBA centre. | Nigeria | Profile / source |
| Austin “Jay-Jay” Okocha | Retired Nigerian international footballer known for creative midfield play. | Nigeria | Profile / source |
| Tobi Amusan | Nigerian track-and-field athlete specialising in the sprint hurdles. | Nigeria | Profile / source |
| Dick Tiger | Late Nigerian boxer and former world champion in two weight divisions. | Nigeria | Profile / source |
| Nwankwo Kanu | Retired Nigerian international footballer who played as a forward. | Nigeria | Profile / source |
| Asisat Oshoala | Nigerian international footballer who plays as a forward. | Nigeria | Profile / source |
| Israel Adesanya | Nigerian-born New Zealand mixed martial artist and former UFC middleweight champion. | Nigeria | Profile / source |
| Chioma Ajunwa | Retired Nigerian athlete and Olympic long-jump gold medallist. | Nigeria | Profile / source |
| Victor Osimhen | Nigerian international footballer who plays as a striker. | Nigeria | Profile / source |
| Lucy Ejike | Nigerian Paralympic powerlifter and multiple Paralympic gold medallist. | Nigeria | Profile / source |
Explore the choices
Across sports and generations
This category includes current competitors and retired or historical figures. Sporting achievements have different formats across football, athletics, basketball, boxing, mixed martial arts and para-powerlifting.
A vote of appreciation across disciplines
Choose the athlete whose career, performances or impact means the most to you. The positions are based on votes here; they are not a comparison of official world rankings or a medal table.
Explore official sporting records
Follow linked federation, league, team or athlete profiles for career information. For current competition schedules and results, check the relevant organiser’s latest information rather than treating a career profile as a live sports feed.
Frequently asked questions
Who is the best Nigerian athlete?
Based on votes on The Best Nigeria, Tobi Amusan is currently the top choice.
Does this category include retired athletes?
Yes. It includes current, retired and historical sporting figures across different disciplines.
Are para-athletes included?
Yes. The category includes para-sport alongside other disciplines, with the same voting option for every listed athlete.
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