2023 The year in Sports: Amusan, Osimhen, Brume stars to watch

• Published date: 08 January 2023
• Publication title: Nigeria - The Nation

THE exciting world of football has kicked off in the most interesting manner even before 2023 kicked off. The demise of the most inspiring footballer in history, Pele, in late 2022 and his colorful burial, in 2023, prolonged the Qatar World Cup firecracker.

This is closely followed by the mega million transfer of Christiano Ronaldo to the Saudi Arabia league in what is another fallout of the World Cup in Qatar.

The five-time Ballon d'Or winner secured one of the biggest deals in football history that is worth a whopping $200 million annually to Al Nassr, Saudi Arabia.

The year's main events range from Women's World Cup football in Australia and New Zealand to Men's rugby union World Cup and Champions League final in Ataturk Olympic Stadium, Istanbul.

Others are Para-athletics World Championships in Paris and Athletics World Championships in Budapest

That is not forgetting the top heavyweight bouts in boxing and UFC, and the people and countries that will make 2023 memorable.

FOOTBALL

Following a woeful 2022, the Super Eagles of Nigeria will seek to redeem their battered image as the Africa Cup of Nations resumes in March with the third and fourth rounds of qualifying matches for the 2024 AFCON in Cote d'Ivoire.

The biggest football event in the year is the Women's World Cup sheduled for August in Australia and New Zealand.

While England's women's footballers will be attempting the near impossible by adding the world title to their European crown, Nigeria's Super Falcons will be making its tenth appearance in the competition having been drawn in Group B alongside co-hosts Australia, Canada, and the Republic of Ireland.

Of course, these football events will be a litmus test for the new helmsman in charge of the Nigeria Football Federation, Ibrahim Gasau, who will mostly be in the news due to the enduring love between Nigerians and football.

As expected the Premiership will be the focus of teeming followers of the game, and maybe, the Saudi league will also get some attention, at least with Ronaldo playing there. Ronaldo has the biggest followers in football.

In Ronaldo's absence, the EPL can still boast of many stars that will light it up and make impressive news. Among them are Erling Haaland, Kevin De Bruyne, Harry Kane, Mohammed Salah, Naby Keita, Martin Odegaard, and Busayo Saka, and for the African audience, who would be tracking their players, Kelechi Iheanacho, Wilfred Ndidi, Daniel Amartey, Edouard Mendy, Hakim Ziyech, Thomas Partey, Frank Onyeka, and Alex...