Top Ten Sporting Activities Involving Nigeria In 2021

  Top Ten Sporting Activities Involving Nigeria In 2021 By Niyi Busari BSN Sports takes a look at the numerous sporting events in 2021 and decides to pick the top ten that will shape the country's achievement in sports at the end of the year. Coronavirus pandemic disrupted sporting activities all over the world in 2020, however, despite the second waves of the pandemic lurking around the corner, we nevertheless look at the positive side, believing the sporting activities will not be disrupted like last year. Here are our top 10 sporting events for 2021. 1) WAFU U17 Seven countries including the defending champions, Nigeria will contest for two tickets for the U17 African Nations Cup slated to hold later this year. West African Football Union (WAFU) Zone U17 tournament kicks off on Tuesday January 5 and ends on 18. The seven countries includes, Niger, Burkina Faso, Togo, and Benin Republic in group A. While Nigeria, Ghana and Cote d'Ivoire are in group B. The two finalists of the zonal qualification automatically qualify for the CAF U17 African Youth Championship. 2) Champion of Champions Wrestling Championship in January The Nigeria Wrestling Federation will stage the first-ever Champion of Champions tournament in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State. The invitational tournament, which will feature the top 5 wrestlers in the six Olympic weight classes in Women Wrestling and Freestyle events, will take place from 15th to 18th January, 2021. The championship according to the NWF President, Daniel Igali is to put Nigeria's wrestlers who are Olympic hopefuls in prime shape ahead of the 2021 African Championship and African/Oceania Olympic qualifiers both in El Jadida and Morocco. 3) Africa U18 Girls Volleyball Championship in January. The Nigeria Volleyball Federation, will host the rest of Africa in the Women's U18 volleyball championship billed to hold at the M.KO Abiola national stadium, Abuja from January 29 to February 7, 2021. 4) National Sports Festival Edo State will come alive again not for politics but for hosting the 2021 National Sports Festival which commences February 14. The Minister of Youth and Sports, Sunday Dare has reassured Nigerians that the February 14 kick off is sacrosanct. All 36 states in Nigeria is expected to be represented by their athletes. Due to Covid-19, the national sports festival has been postponed for three times. The last edition was held in Abuja in December, 2018 where Delta emerged champions. 5) Access Bank City Marathon in February Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Access Bank City Marathon could not take place in 2020 but the organizer after satisfying all protocols has been given the go-ahead to stage the event. Over 20 elite athletes from Africa and Europe are expected to grace the marathon. 6) National U18/21 Handball Championship in March This year's National U18/21 Handball Championship will take place in Ilorin in March if the second wave of the COVID-19 does not disrupt the sporting world. Some of the players who excel at the U18/21 championship stands a chance of representing the country at age grade tournament. 7) National Division One Handball League in April The Division One handball tournament will serve as a qualifier to the Prudent Energy Handball League. Two teams in the men and two teams from the women's category are expected to qualify to the top league. The venue for the Division One is yet to be decided by the Handball Federation of Nigeria. 8) African/Oceanic Olympic Wrestling Qualifiers in April Odunayo Adekuoroye is the only Nigeria wrestler who have qualified for Tokyo 2020 Olympics. The African/Oceanic Qualifier is a must for Nigeria wrestlers if they want to field more athletes at this year's Olympic 9) CAA Zone 3 Athletics Championship in April Athletics Federation of Nigeria will hold the CAA Zone 3 Championship in April this year. Though, the leadership challenges are still there but the programmes for this year must go on in preparation for the Olympics and other international championship. 10) AFCON Qualifiers The Super Eagles and other African countries will conclude their qualification for the 2021 African Nations Cup in Cameroon. Benin Republic will host Nigeria on 22 March in a battle for the top game as Nigeria is topping group H with 8 points, followed closely by Benin Republic with 7 points. Winners between the two teams top the group until.the last group game that comes up 30, March