Nigeria is the First African Team Ever to Win a Match at the World Curling Championship

The Nigerian team beat France 8-5 in the mixed doubles to give Nigeria its historic win.

Nigeria is the First African Team Ever to Win a Match at the World Curling Championship

Tijani and Susana Cole are absolute couple goals. The husband-wife duo picked up curling as a sport about three years ago and have now made history as the first African team to win a match at the 2019 World Curling Championship being held in Stavanger, Norway this year.

Although they lost 20-0 to the Czech Republic earlier on in the tournament, the couple stepped up their game and came back even stronger.


For those who may never have heard of curling, the sport is played on ice and involves using brooms to slide stones towards a target area which is divided into four concentric circles. Think of it as being similar to shuffleboard.

As soon as Nigeria's game with France came to an end, the Coles shook their opponents' hands and started celebrating. Fans within the Sormarka Arena erupted into deafening applause and were even joined by some of the other curlers.

After having been inspired by watching the Olympic sport, the couple was ecstatic to have bagged a "first" for not only Nigeria, but the entire African continent.

Speaking to CBC Sports, Susana explained how she was glad that all their hard work had finally paid off.

Tijani echoed his wife's comment and added that:

"Watching it on the Olympics over the years was motivating for me and my wife. We're both athletes and competitors. What a great dream to share this with your best friend, my wife. You go through so many trials and tribulations. It's been a long journey."

The couple, who live in Denver, have family in the Nigerian city of Onitsha and were thrilled at the opportunity to take up their favorite sport on a world stage.

Those on social media have been congratulating the couple.





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