Sports stars: Made in Nigeria, on loan to the world

Nigerians are all over the world doing great exploits across all walks of life. Perhaps no other profession has them aplenty than the world of sports. Stakeholders are unanimous that as long as the best talents cannot find a home in Nigeria or the motivation to don the green-white-green jerseys in solidarity to country of birth, the ‘resource curse’ country will continue to play a second fiddle across sports it should dominate, ALEX MONYE reports.

Rasheedat Adeleke is one of the fastest young athletes that rocked the World Championships in Budapest, Hungary. Adeleke, a 400m and 200m race specialist, made her Diamond League debut over 400m in Monaco in 2022.

Adeleke, as her name suggests, is a Nigerian by heritage, but she has absolutely no connection with the country of her parents. Rather, she is an Irish idol leading the country of her birth’s ambitions in world athletics.

Born on August 29, 2002 to Prince Ade Adeleke, Rasheedat was the first Irish woman to break the 50-second barrier in the 400 metres. She holds six Irish national records (60 m indoors, 200 m indoors and out, 300m indoors, and 400 m indoors and out). And so, when the Paris Olympic Games start in 2024, Adeleke would be lining up against Nigerian stars also aspiring for podium finishes.

Adeleke is just one of so many athletes of Nigerian descent, who have chosen to represent other countries instead of Nigeria. Recently, teenage Bayern Munich sensation, Jamaal Musiala, was voted as Germany’s best hope of returning to the top of world football due to his prodigious talent.

Bayern Munich’s midfielder Jamal Musiala (R) and Leipzig’s defender Marcel Halstenberg vie for the ball during the German first division Bundesliga football match between FC Bayern Munich