Over the past year, the world of sports has witnessed unparalleled feats achieved by women who have not only excelled in their respective disciplines but also shattered records and broken barriers. From coaching triumphs and sprinting records to groundbreaking achievements in football refereeing, bobsleigh, and beyond, these women have left an indelible mark on the global sports landscape.
Here, we celebrate the top 10 women in sports and in the business of sports whose remarkable journeys and accomplishments have truly blown our minds, highlighting their journey, impact, and the inspirational legacy they continue to build for future generations.
Nigeria’s head coach, Rena Wakama. Photo | FIBA
D’Tigress Coach, Rena Wakama, made history as the first female coach to win the Afro Basket in 2023 since it came into inception in 1966. Wakama was appointed just 2 weeks before the competition in Rwanda, yet she proved her exceptional and goal getting ability.
Rena played basketball professionally in the United Kingdom, FIBA, African basketball league and the Nigeria’s Senior team (D’Tigress) before she became a Coach.
Wakama has had an inspiring journey so far.
Nigeria’s Tobi Amusan. (Photo by Michal Cizek / AFP) (Photo by MICHAL CIZEK/AFP via Getty Images)
Oluwatobiloba Ayomide “Tobi” Amusan, born on 23 April 1997, is a Nigerian track and field athlete with a focus on the 100 meters hurdles. She also participates as a sprinter in various competitions.
Amusan, who made history in 2022 as the first Nigerian to win a World Athletics Championship gold, continues to demonstrate her exceptional sprinting abilities, adding another remarkable accomplishment to her already impressive career.
Nigerian sprinter, Tobi Amusan secured a new African women’s indoor record in the 60 meters by clocking an impressive 7.75 seconds at the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix in Boston. This achievement surpasses the previous record of 7.77 seconds set in Kazakhstan at the Astana Indoor Meet in January 2024.
Bouchra Karboubi is a Moroccan professional soccer referee who has officiated both men’s and women’s continental competitions.
She is the first North African Woman to referee a men’s match at the 2023 African Cup of Nations, and now one of Morocco’s renowned female football officials at the Africa Cup of Nations. Meanwhile, she faced early resistance from her brothers due to societal norms.
Growing up in a conservative city, her passion for football and desire to join refereeing school were initially met with disapproval. In a defiant act, Karboubi mended her torn linesman’s flag after her brothers objected.
Undeterred, she pursued her refereeing career, climbing the ranks from officiating women’s league matches to men’s games. Her journey culminated in becoming the first woman to referee the Moroccan men’s cup final, marking a significant milestone.
Bouchra Karboubi was one of five female officials at the men’s Africa Cup of Nations 2023 in Ivory Coast.
Asisat Oshoala is a Professional Nigerian Female Footballer who currently plays for American Female Football Team, Bay FC and the Nigerian National Team, Super Falcons.
During her five-year tenure with FC Barcelona Femeni, she netted 107 goals in 149 appearances.
Her remarkable contributions led to two UEFA Women’s Champions League titles, four Spanish league triumphs, three Spanish Super Cups, and the Copa de la Reina.
The 29-year-old footballer secured a two-year deal with Bay FC, including an option for a one-year extension until 2027.
Oshoala’s stellar performance in 2022 made her the joint top scorer in the Spanish league with 19 goals. Her outstanding achievements with Barcelona earned her numerous CAF Women’s Footballer of the Year awards. In 2023, she clinched the title of Africa‘s best footballer for a record-extending sixth time and was shortlisted twice for the women’s Ballon d’Or.
The Chief Operating Officer of Brila Media is a remarkable Sports Media Executive whose achievements have made her a luminary in the industry. Debbie Larry Izamoje’s unwavering commitment to promoting women’s sports has been evident from time in her work during the Aisha Buhari Tournament in 2021 and her recent involvement in the NWFL task force under the sisterhood campaign (1 of 7 women chosen from different industries). Recently, her notable advocacy for women’s inclusion in sports, particularly during the Women’s World Cup 2023, earned her an international award in the UK and a place at the 2023 World Football Summit in Seville, Spain.
Although she claims it is merely a passion, Debbie, who is Harvard-trained, continues to advance the sports media industry through innovation, collaboration, and education of multicultural stakeholders. Under her astute leadership, Brila Media has expanded its horizons beyond radio, gaining its highest digital followership since inception. Just recently, the company was awarded the best radio station in Nigeria (Lagos, PH, Abuja, Onitsha) after a successful AFCON Watch Party of over 2000 HNIs and a record-breaking partnership of over 40 sports-targeted brands during the tournament.
In 2023, amongst many recognitions, She was nominated as Sports Influencer of the Year by Pulse NG, recognized as part of the top 100 power women in the country, and in 2024 nominated for the Woman Wonder Award by The Guardian. Despite her successes, Debbie is often described as humble, witty, reliable, and forward-thinking.
Chiamaka Nnadozie
Chiamaka Nnadozie is a Professional Goalkeeper for the Super Falcons and French Club, Paris FC. The 23-year-old goalkeeper won the African Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year award at the 2023 CAF Awards in Morocco.
The first-choice goalkeeper for the Super Falcons, also contributed to the team’s recognition as the African Women’s National Team of the Year 2023 and she led Paris FC to their first Women UEFA Champions League appearance in 2023.
Damilola Pedro is a games and sports marketing specialist who is known for her exceptional leadership as the Head of Growth and Partnerships at Africa’s leading Gaming and Tech company Gamr Africa which was recently recognized with the BEST DIGITAL SPORTS EVENT award at The Arena Awards 2023.
She is also a Games Marketing and PR Professional at Studio Back Pack Games where she strategically plans and execute campaigns, cultivate media relations and influencer partnerships, and engage with the gaming community to drive game success and enhance brand visibility
Damilola has a passion to empower the African gaming community and create opportunities for talent and innovation.
Eniola Edun is the CEO of Gamr, an organization centered on the gaming community and dedicated to the promotion of E-Sports in Nigeria. Under her leadership in the last year, Gamrhas constantly made efforts towards bringing into limelight, a very important and often overlooked aspect of sports and it has been nothing short of remarkable. From their ever-excitinggaming events held across Lagos Island to bringing together members of the gaming community, and further promoting E-Sports and the gaming community as a whole in the year 2023.Gamr has taken E-Sports a step further with the opening of their game centre known as ‘CARVEN’ which serves as a social ground in furtherance of the gaming community. Eniola’sexceptional leadership and courage to take on this aspect of sports is worth being celebrated.
Justina Aniefiok is a freelance photo journalist and an international Sports Photographer accredited by the Confederation of African Football (CAF), and the International Federation of Football Association (FIFA). She’s renowned for her major appearances at the FIFA Women’s World Cup AU/NZ 2023 and the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon (2019-2023). Justina also holds the award for Outstanding Female Photographer, Sports Pillar Meritorious Awards 2023.
Justina has reached remarkable milestones in her career over the past year and her achievements are a testament to her passion, talent and commitment to capturing the essence of sports through pictures.
In February 2024, Simidele Adeagbo made history as the first African athlete to compete in Bobsleigh at the BMW IBSF WOrld Championships in Winterburg, Germany. This achievement is one amongst other record–breaking impacts Simidele Adeagbo has made internationally in the sports industry.
In 2018, she became the first Nigerian to compete at the Winter Olympics and at 40, she became the first African to win ISBF World Cup race in January, 2022.
Simidele Adeagbo spoke on how passionate she is about making sure young girls in the sports industry achieve their goals.
“I’m very passionate about how l can help inspire the next generation, particularly of young girls, help give them just the incredible gift that is the power of sport and how l help build their leadership skills through that”.
The past year has been nothing short of phenomenal in the realm of women’s sports, with these top 10 trailblazers leading the charge. Each athlete and sports professional on this list has not only showcased exceptional talent and determination but has also paved the way for more inclusive and diverse representation in the global sports arena. Their stories are a testament to the power of resilience, passion, and unwavering dedication to their craft. As we look forward to the future, these women serve as beacons of inspiration, challenging norms and inspiring a new generation to dream big, break barriers, and achieve greatness in sports and beyond.
