The Bad Luck of Bola Tinubu in Nigerian Sports: A Tenure of Near-Misses, Heartbreaks, and Sparse Triumphs
Since President Bola Ahmed Tinubu took office on 29 May 2023, Nigerian sports have delivered a familiar pattern of high expectations dashed by administrative issues, inconsistency, and painful exits. The Super Eagles’ failure to reach the 2026 FIFA World Cup and their inability to convert strong AFCON runs into titles have become the defining symbols of this period. While women’s teams have provided genuine high points, the overall narrative for many fans remains one of frustration—especially in men’s football and multi-sport events on the global stage.
Major Failures Under Tinubu
The Super Eagles reached the final of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (played in early 2024) but lost 2-1 to hosts Ivory Coast. That silver medal was followed by a disastrous 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign. Nigeria failed to finish top of a relatively accessible group, scraped into the CAF play-offs, beat Gabon, then lost to DR Congo 4-3 on penalties in the final in November 2025. It marked consecutive World Cup absences for the first time since the early 1990s and Nigeria’s third miss since 1994.
At AFCON 2025 (held late 2025–early 2026 in Morocco), the Eagles finished third after losing the semi-final to Morocco on penalties and beating Egypt in the third-place match. The Paris 2024 Olympics produced zero medals for Team Nigeria despite significant funding (reports cited around ₦9–12 billion for Olympics/Paralympics preparation). Administrative errors (including Favour Ofili’s 100m
registration issue), equipment shortages, and underperformance by stars like Tobi Amusan compounded the disappointment. Youth teams also struggled: Flying Eagles and Flamingos suffered early World Cup exits, and Golden Eaglets failed to qualify for consecutive African U-17 tournaments.
Other low points included athletics controversies, athletes switching nationality (e.g., Favour Ofili to Turkey), and the Super Falcons’ shock 1-0 quarter-final exit to Cameroon at WAFCON 2026 in August 2026—ending their title defence and automatic World Cup qualification path. Domestic league instability, unpaid player bonuses, and NFF/NSC administrative friction have persisted despite the return of the National Sports Commission.
The Few Successes
Women’s teams have been the clearest bright spots. The Super Falcons won a record-extending 10th Women’s Africa Cup of Nations title in 2025 with a dramatic 3-2 comeback over hosts Morocco. D’Tigress claimed a fifth consecutive FIBA Women’s AfroBasket title and made history at Paris 2024 as the first African basketball team (men’s or women’s) to reach the Olympic quarter-finals. Nigeria also posted strong results at the 2025 Islamic Solidarity Games (30 medals, best-ever finish) and the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow (24 medals: 10 gold, 7 silver, 7 bronze). Flag football teams swept the inaugural African championships, and powerlifters delivered Paralympic golds in Paris.
Tinubu’s government has provided financial rewards, national honours, and funding boosts, and the president has publicly congratulated successful teams. Structural reforms via the National Sports Commission remain a work in progress.
20 Recent Losses / Disappointments in Nigerian Sports (Africa & World, roughly 2023–2026)
- Super Eagles lose AFCON 2023 final 2-1 to Ivory Coast (Feb 2024).
- Super Eagles fail to qualify for 2026 World Cup (penalty loss to DR Congo, Nov 2025).
- Team Nigeria win zero medals at Paris 2024 Olympics.
- Super Eagles lose AFCON 2025 semi-final to Morocco on penalties.
- Super Falcons eliminated 1-0 by Cameroon in WAFCON 2026 quarter-finals (Aug 2026).
- Flying Eagles crash out of FIFA U-20 World Cup Round of 16 (4-0 to Argentina).
- Flamingos exit FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup quarter-finals (4-0 to Italy).
- Golden Eaglets fail to qualify for successive African U-17 Championships.
- Tobi Amusan fails to medal at major global championships (including World Athletics).
- Favour Ofili misses Olympic 100m due to federation registration error; later switches nationality.
- Super Eagles draw or lose key World Cup qualifiers (e.g., home draws with Lesotho/Zimbabwe, loss to Benin).
- Poor overall showing at World Athletics Championships (limited medals, ranking issues).
- Youth and developmental teams’ collective underperformance across multiple cycles.
- Domestic league and club competitions plagued by funding and organisation crises.
- Athletes report equipment shortages and logistical failures at major events.
- NFF/NSC administrative disputes and bonus payment delays affecting morale.
- Super Eagles miss consecutive World Cups for the first time in decades.
- Limited medals or early exits in several African multi-sport youth events.
- Individual stars (e.g., in athletics/wrestling) fall short of expected podiums.
- Broader perception of stagnation in men’s football development pipeline.
20 Recent Wins / Successes in Nigerian Sports (Africa & World, roughly 2023–2026)
- Super Falcons win record 10th WAFCON title (3-2 comeback vs Morocco, 2025).
- D’Tigress win fifth consecutive FIBA Women’s AfroBasket title (vs Mali, 2025).
- D’Tigress reach Olympic quarter-finals at Paris 2024 (historic for African basketball).
- Team Nigeria claim 30 medals at 2025 Islamic Solidarity Games (best-ever).
- Team Nigeria win 24 medals (10 gold) at 2026 Commonwealth Games, Glasgow.
- Nigeria sweep men’s and women’s titles at inaugural IFAF African Flag Football Championships.
- Super Eagles finish third at AFCON 2025 (beat Egypt on penalties).
- Super Eagles reach AFCON 2023 final (strong campaign under José Peseiro).
- Powerlifters Folashade Oluwafemiayo and Onyinyechi Mark win Paralympic golds (Paris 2024).
- Mariam Eniola Bolaji wins historic Paralympic badminton bronze (first African).
- Super Falcons maintain continental dominance with multiple strong qualification campaigns.
- D’Tigress continue multi-year AfroBasket supremacy.
- Nigeria qualify and perform creditably in various African regional championships (table tennis, etc.).
- Individual athletics breakthroughs and national records (e.g., Ezekiel Nathaniel).
- Flag football teams secure World Championship qualification pathways.
- Strong showings by Nigerian clubs or players in African continental club competitions.
- Youth or developmental teams secure occasional African titles or high placings.
- Government rewards (cash, houses, national honours) for successful national teams.
- Improved funding announcements and NSC reforms aimed at long-term development.
- Consistent high placement by Nigerian athletes in selected African multi-sport events.
In summary, Tinubu’s tenure has been marked by the painful absence from the 2026 World Cup, an Olympic medal drought, and repeated near-misses in men’s football, offset by sustained excellence from the Super Falcons and D’Tigress plus solid multi-sport results at the Commonwealth and Islamic Solidarity Games. Whether these patterns reflect pure “bad luck,” deeper structural problems in administration and grassroots development, or a combination of both remains a live debate among Nigerian sports fans. The coming years will test whether reforms can turn more near-misses into lasting triumphs.
