Olympics Champion Ajunwa, Kanu, Boxer Dick Tiger, Business mogul Dangote, others make 60 Sports Icons list

Harry Awurumibe, Editor-in-Chief

Golden Girl, Chroma Ajunwa acknowledges cheers after her jump earned Nigeria the first individual Gold Medal at the Olympics .

Expectedly. a dozen of footballers and Nigeria’s first individual Olympic Games Gold medallist, Chioma Ajunwa; business mogul Aliko Dangote, ex-World Boxing Champion Dick Tiger and tennis star Segun Toriola 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 event:
1. Chioma Ajunwa
2. Mary Onyali
3. Jighere Wellington
4. Odion Aikhoje
5. Duncan Dokiware
6. Austin Okocha
7. Kanu Nwankwo
8. Feyisetan Are
9. Blessing Okagbare
10. Garba Lawal
11. Lucy Ejike
12. Falilat Ogunkoya/Atlanta 96 Women’s 4x400m Quartet
13. Sunday Bada/Sydney 2000 Men’s 4x400m Quartet
14. Football Dream Team, Atlanta 1996 Olympics
15. Emmanuel Amunike
16. Chika Chukwumeriji
17. Davidson Ezinwa
18. Odunayo Adekuoroye
19. Modupe Oshikoya
20. Peter Konyegwachie
21. Olusoji Fasuba
22. Nduka Ugbade/Sebastine Broadricks Emasuen/1985 GOLDEN EAGLETS
23. Hogan Bassey
24. Dick Tiger
25. Samuel Peters
26. Barcelona 92′ quartet (Men’s 4x100m Relay)
27. Funke Oshonaike
28. Segun Odegbami
29. D’Tigress
30. Segun Toriola
31. Roland Ezuruike
32. Mayegun Nojeem
33. SAM IGUN
34. Israel Adesanya
35. Super Eagles 1994
36. Olumide Oyedeji
37. Blessing Oborududu
38. Tompraba Grikpa
39. Chidi Imoh
40. Christian Chukwu
41. Ajibola Adeoye
42. Stephen Keshi
43. Atanda Musa
44. Muda Lawal/Emmanuel Okala/Green Eagles 1980
45. Daniel Amokachi
46. Rashidi Yekini
47. Teslim Thunder Balogun
48. Perpetual Nkwocha
49. Super Falcons
50. Power Mike
51. Flora Ugwunwa
52. Lauretta Onye
53. Sam Okwaraji
54. Nduka Odizor
55. David Izonrite
56. Chief MKO Abiola
57. Dr. Larry Izamoje
58. Mazi. Ernest Okonkwo
59. Alh. Aliko Dangote
60. Chief Sir Kesington Adebutu

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