Despite being let down severally by the Nigerian Government, especially in the areas of funding, planning and general support, we still believe in the abilities of the athletes representing us. Here are the top stars we think will win big in Rio.
1. Dream Team VI member, Oghenekaro Etebo.
Etebo made us super proud when he scored 4 out of 5 goals in our U-23 game against Japan.
2. Olympic and World Championship medalist, Blessing Okagbare.
Okagbare will represent us in both track events and long jump.
3. Champion tennis player, Aruna Qadri.
Quadri has set a record as the first African to make it to the Table Tennis Quarter Finals at the Olympics.
4. Odunayo Adekuoroye, freestyle wrestling champion.
She won a gold medal at the 2014 Commonwealth Games, and a bronze at the 2015 World Wrestling Championships.
Shane plays center position for FC Barcelona Lassa, and is a great addition to the Nigerian team for the Men’s Tournament at the Olympics.
6. Track and field athlete, Margaret Bamgbose.
Bamgbose was the lead for Team Nigeria’s relay race at the World Indoor Championships in Portland this year, and will represent Nigeria in the 400m Women’s Race.
7. American-born athlete, Miles Ukaoma.
He competed in the 2015 World Championships in Beijing and will represent Nigerian in the 400m Men’s Hurdle.
8. Champion sprinter, Gloria Asunmu.
Asunmu represented Nigeria in the 2014 IAAF relays, 2015 World Championships in Beijing and the 2016 African Championships in South Africa. She will represent Nigeria in the Women’s 100m and 4 by 100m relay race.
9. U-23 footballer, Umar Sadiq.
Sadiq who is also a forward for football club A.S Roma, scored Nigeria’s first goal in the game against Japan, and we look forward to all the amazing things this 19-year-old will do in Rio.
10. John Mikel Obi, professional footballer.
Mikel is a regular on the Nigerian national football team, and also a mid-fielder for English football club Chelsea. He is the captain of the Dream Team VI, and so far has led the team to win against Sweden and Japan.
