Angola 2025: Team Nigeria Continues Swimming Revolution

Posted : 15 December 2025

Nigeria appears to be breaking new ground in swimming, a sport where the nation historically struggled to secure podium finishes at major competitions. For years, African swimming medals were dominated by countries such as Egypt and South Africa, leaving Nigeria trailing in the overall medal standings. The past lack of success was attributed to weak foundations and limited exposure at junior levels, a critical stage for excelling in swimming.

However, recent developments point to a significant turnaround. Nigeria’s teenage swimmers have consistently performed well in age-group championships, a trend that has carried into the ongoing Africa Youth Games (AYG) in Angola.

Seventeen-year-old Abdul Jabar Adama has been a standout figure. In May, at the 3rd Africa Junior Swimming Championships in Cairo, Adama claimed three gold medals in the 50m butterfly, 50m freestyle, and 100m freestyle, helping Nigeria to a third-place finish overall. He also set and broke the 50m butterfly championship record twice in one day.

In August, Adama became the first Nigerian to win a medal at the World Aquatics Junior Championships in Romania, securing silver in the men’s 50m butterfly. His semifinal time of 23.48 seconds set a new national record, surpassing the 23.61 seconds he recorded earlier that morning. Earlier in April, he had broken the previous record with a time of 23.81 at the Aquatics GB Swimming Championships, highlighting his remarkable consistency and record-breaking pace.

Adama’s achievements have inspired a new generation of swimmers. At the AYG, 14-year-old Aidan Dumuje Abili clinched bronze in the 50m butterfly with a personal best of 25.78 seconds, improving from his 26.07-second performance in Ghana in October. Abili, part of the Invited Junior Athletes (IJA) program, has previously won two silver and one bronze at the National Sports Festival and triple gold at the 2024 National Youth Games.

Abili credited the IJA initiative and the National Sports Commission (NSC) for his growth, saying, “I have learnt quite a lot here. This exposure will surely help me in my career. I aim to make the most of this opportunity and put Nigeria on the podium at future global events, including the Youth Olympics and the Olympics.”

The performances of Adama and Abili signal a generational shift in Nigerian swimming. With structured youth programs like the IJA and consistent international exposure, Team Nigeria is building a strong foundation to compete and succeed on the continental and global stages.

Angola 2025: Team Nigeria Continues Swimming Revolution

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