Super Falcons star Asisat Oshoala and former Nigeria international Perpetua Nkwocha are among Africa’s 25 Best Athletes of the 21st Century, as compiled by ESPN.
Nigerian athletes Israel Adesanya, Kamaru Usman, and Osi Umenyiora also made the list, alongside football legends like Samuel Eto’o, Yaya Toure, Didier Drogba, Mohamed Salah, and Sadio Mane. Athletics icons Kenenisa Bekele, Caster Semenya, Eliud Kipchoge, and Tirunesh Dibaba were also honored.
ESPN praised Oshoala for her impact on African women’s football, highlighting her record six African Women’s Player of the Year awards and her successful stint at Barcelona. Nkwocha was noted for her prolific goal-scoring and leadership with Nigeria’s Super Falcons.
Adesanya and Usman were recognized for their dominance in UFC, with both holding titles from 2019-2022. Umenyiora, a former NFL star, was celebrated for his contributions to American football and his post-retirement work in Lagos.
