Everyone looks forward to the weekend because of the excitement it brings, from food to parties to outdoor activities, even games.
For sports in Nigeria, the past weekend is one that left a bitter taste.
SUPER FALCONS’ WAFCON DREAM ENDS
The biggest disappointment came from Morocco, where the defending champions, the Super Falcons, were knocked out of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations after a 1-0 defeat to Cameroon in the quarter-finals.
Nigeria went into the game knowing that victory would take them into the semi-finals and automatically secure a place at the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
But Cameroon had other plans for the 10-time WAFCON winners.
19-year-old Myriam Maéva Nyadjou scored the only goal of the game in the 19th minute, ending Nigeria’s hopes of defending the continental title and also denying the nine-time champions an automatic World Cup ticket.
However, the World Cup dream is not completely over. Nigeria will have another opportunity through the play-off route, where the Falcons are set to face South Africa.
FLYING EAGLES FALL TO BURKINA FASO
As if the Falcons’ disappointment was not enough, Nigeria’s Flying Eagles also suffered a major setback.
The Under-20 side were beaten 4-1 by Burkina Faso in the WAFU B final, ending their hopes of lifting the regional trophy.
The result was particularly damaging because it also ended Nigeria’s hopes of taking part in the Under-20 AFCON and qualifying for the 2027 FIFA U-20 World Cup.
The Flying Eagles have won the WAFU-B competition 8 times, a stark reminder that dynasties do crumble after some time.
The focus now shifts from trophies to rebuilding.
AND THEN CAME THE ATHLETICS CONTROVERSY
If football provided the heartbreak, athletics provided another uncomfortable talking point.
Nigeria’s mixed 4x100m relay team at the World Athletics U-20 Championships was disqualified over the use of unauthorised spikes, costing the team its result and the records associated with the performance.
The quartet of Tejiri Godwin, Chigozie Rosemary Nwankwo, Perfect Faye and Miracle Ezechukwu clocked 41.77 seconds to finish fourth in the final in Eugene, Oregon.
The performance initially stood as both an African and Nigerian U-20 record. Officials later ruled that Faye’s spikes were not on the World Athletics-approved list, resulting in the disqualification and the erasure of the mark.
The development is particularly painful because Nigeria has shown real promise in the mixed 4x100m relay this year.
CHRISTANTUS UCHE SUFFERS SEASON-ENDING INJURY
The weekend also brought worrying news for the Super Eagles, with Christantus Uche facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines.
The Nigerian midfielder suffered a serious right-knee injury during Getafe’s pre-season friendly against Monaco after a heavy challenge from Monaco defender Christian Mawissa.
The injury initially looked serious, and further examinations confirmed the worst fears. Uche is set to undergo surgery and is expected to miss the entire 2026/27 season
BUT FENCING AND PARA-BADMINTON GAVE NIGERIA SOMETHING TO CELEBRATE
And then, just when Nigerian sport looked determined to give us nothing but bad news, a 16-year-old fencer stepped onto the piste in Lagos and said, “Hold on, make una celebrate small.”
Oghenegaren Esiovwa-Thompson made Nigerian fencing history at the Commonwealth Fencing Championships, winning the men’s U-23 épée title.
The 16-year-old produced an unbeaten run throughout the competition before defeating India’s Lokesh Vemani 15-5 in the final.
That victory made Esiovwa-Thompson the first Nigerian to win gold at the Commonwealth Fencing Championships and the first Nigerian to win gold at an international fencing event.
And there is an interesting twist to his story.
Esiovwa-Thompson previously represented England before switching his allegiance to Nigeria.
Over in Peru, Eniola Bolaji was busy reminding the world why she is one of the best Para badminton players on the planet.
The Paralympic Games bronze medallist emerged champion of the Women’s SL3 category at the Peru Para Badminton International 2026, defeating Brazil’s Kauana Beckenkamp 2-0 in the final, winning both games 21-12.
The world number two opened her campaign by dismantling Brazil’s Maria Da Silva Abinaecia 21-7, 21-6.
Then came Croatia’s Gabriela Montero.
Bolaji won 21-2, 21-1.
Yes — 21-2 and 21-1.
If that wasn’t enough, she returned in the semi-final and defeated Mexico’s Maria Rojas Peres 21-6, 21-9 before completing the job against Beckenkamp in the final.
AND THAT, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WAS THE WEEKEND IN SPORT FOR NIGERIA
So, if you were looking for a weekend that gave you everything, Nigerian sport certainly delivered.
The Super Falcons reminded us that even champions can fall. The Flying Eagles showed us that history is beautiful, but history alone cannot win the next game. Our relay team taught us that sometimes, you can run faster than everyone else and still lose because your shoes did not get the memo.
And then there was Christantus Uche, whose season appears to have ended before it even properly began.
But just when Nigerian sport looked determined to give us nothing but bad news, a 16-year-old fencer stepped onto the piste in Lagos and said, “Hold on, make una celebrate small.”
