by Yomi Kazeem

In pure sporting terms, 2013 has been quite a fruitful year. As is always the case, football was the main item on the agenda and with many of the stellar highlights coming from football, the many fans of the various national teams were cheerful for most of the year as Nigeria enjoyed one of its most successful years in recent times. Alongside a few notable persons away from football, here are the top ten sports personalities for 2013 in no particular order.

Stephen Keshi
Few have won the AFCON as both player and coach and Keshi falls into that elite class. Despite the many hurdles along the way- player protests over allowances, boardroom politics and unpaid salaries- Keshi etched his name into Nigerian football folklore with an AFCON triumph that few could have predicted. Brave enough to overhaul the existing set-up, Keshi has, within a year, laid the foundation for what may yet be another generation of successful Super Eagles teams.

Mikel Obi
Ever the understated professional, Mikel Obi has been at the heart of the successes of the Nigerian football team in 2013. After a few years of failing to deliver, the former boy wonder finally came of age with impressive showings at the AFCON as well as at the Confederations Cup. On a more personal note, Mikel stands in good stead to become the first Nigerian to win the African Football of the Year award in the new millennium.

Baba Ganaru
Kano Pillars have become giants in the local football scene and the man with the magic wand for the well-supported club is Baba Ganaru. Leading the team to a second consecutive NPFL league win, Baba Ganaru has created a strong team that can finally shoulder Nigeria’s hopes of winning the CAF Champions League- a feat last acheived by Enyimba of Aba in 2004.

Kelechi Iheanacho
Every now and then, Nigerians are treated to delightful display from a prodigious youngster. The likes of Kanu Nwankwo and JayJay Okocha are among the many who have made the step up from age grade tournaments to the Super Eagles and without a doubt, Kelechi Iheanacho is next in line of such greats. Winning the Golden Ball award at the U17 World Cup- an honour shared with icons such as Diego Maradona and Lionel Messi- Iheanacho announced his emergence with a bang.

Blessing Okagbare
Nigerian athletics has waned over the years as the golden years of Mary Onyali and Sunday Bada seem consigned to history. If anyone can change the tide though, it will be Blessing Okagbare as the sprinter has embarked on a one-woman mission to put Nigerian athletics back on the map. Winning the 100m final at the London Anniversary Games ahead of Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce in July, Blessing broke the African record of 10.90 which had stood since 1998. A silver medal in long jump at the World Championships in Moscow ensured that the versatile athlete capped her wonder year on a high.

‎​Enobong Umohette
Another non-footballer who makes the list, Enobong has been a bright spot in boxing for Nigeria. Defeating former USA Olympian Dante Craig, Umohette captured the UBF International Heavyweight boxing title in November. The ‘Nigerian Gentleman’ as he is fondly called will set his eyes on higher targets but until then, he will remain the UBF International Heavyweight champion.

Charles Anazodo
The television presenter has clearly carved a niche for himself as the top sports broadcaster in the country as he led the studio team for numerous games ranging from the Premier League to national team qualifiers on popular satellite network, SuperSport. A major highlight for Charles was his selection as one of the lead presenters for the AFCON in South Africa. With the eyes of Africa trained on him, Charles oozed class as he anchored the team of ex-footballers and internationally reverred pundits during games at the AFCON.

Sunday Mba
Sunday Mba’s moments of true quality, though fleeting, are worth their weight in pure gold. First came the peach of a goal in a tight quarter-final match against Ivory Coast which was followed by a fine piece of individual brilliance in the final to win Nigeria its first AFCON title in 19 long years. The pint-sized midfielder may never reach those heights but the glory of winning a third AFCON title will always be associated with him.

Liyel Imoke
No, Governor Imoke does not play football. What he has done for the sport however has been nothing short of terrific. Hosting national teams at the UJ Eusene stadium in Calabar, Governor Imoke has provided a home not just for the Super Eagles but also age-grade teams. Under his watch, the Super Eagles sealed qualification for the AFCON and World Cup. The victorious U17 Eaglets were also hosted in Calabar as they negotiated qualification matches on the way to recording their glorious win. With the backing of the governor and the rapturous support at the stadium, the national football teams have truly enjoyed a ‘home advantage’ in 2013.

Manu Garba
If, in the next few years, Nigeria goes on to record phenomenal wins with the Super Eagles, we can be rest assured that the man responsible will be Manu Garba. The U17 World Cup winning boss deserves the credit for putting in meticulous work to scout and select the next generation of stars. With a majority of his team coming from youth football academies, the general consensus is that Manu Garba’s team were truly within the age bracket required. Buckling the usual trend of being associated with selection over-aged players, Manu Garba’s team were a true breath of fresh air.