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Hockey · History

History of Hockey in Nigeria

From stick-and-ball games of the ancient world to Nigeria’s Africa Cup medals.

Nigerian and Kenyan players competing at an African tournament

The story

How hockey came to Nigeria

Hockey is considered one of the oldest games which have been in existence and played in Persia since 2000 BC. but the game spread through the British Empire because of the activities of the British army.

History has it that the name ‘hockey’ was derived from the French word hoquet, a shepherd’s crook and it’s being referred to as the crooked stick which can be used to hit a small ball.

Field hockey historians state that the origin of field hockey is related to the ancient tomb in the Nile Valley 4,000 years ago though some evidence shows that the ancient Greeks, Aztecs and Romans played similar forms of the game.

Modern hockey took shape in England in the 19th century: the Hockey Association was founded in 1886 and the first international match was played in 1895 and in the year 1928, the game was initiated in Nigeria four years after the hockey federation was formed to normalize the game internationally.

The sports members were the British Empire inclusive of India, Pakistan, New Zealand, England and other nations who recently considered the game to be truly a worldwide sport.

The game is termed to be complete with the hockey team comprising of eleven players which include five forwards, two backs, three halves as well as a well-equipped and guarded goalkeeper equitable to the football sport; the game team size and formation vary depending on the coaching strategy and level of play.

Nigeria practices and plays field hockey, as do more than 130 nations around the globe; the popularity of ice hockey is yet to attain that height considering the limited access to ice.

The major difference between ice and field hockey is the device used in shooting the object, the nets and object itself, both have a common primary objective which is to shoot an object into the opponent’s net.

Nigeria’s women’s squad lined up before a match

Verified timeline · checked 30 September 2026

Nigerian hockey timeline

  1. 1886The Hockey Association is formed in England; modern rules spread through the British Empire.
  2. 1924The International Hockey Federation (FIH) is founded.
  3. 1928Hockey is introduced in Nigeria.
  4. 1974Nigeria’s men play their first Africa Cup of Nations.
  5. 1987Men’s bronze at the All-Africa Games in Nairobi.
  6. 2017The women, the Green Hornets, beat Kenya 6-4 for bronze at the Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.
  7. 2018Nigeria’s U-17 boys beat Ghana to win the first West African Hockey 5s.
  8. 2022Men’s bronze at the Africa Cup of Nations in Accra.
  9. 2023Men’s bronze at the African Games in Accra.
  10. 2025Men’s bronze at the Africa Cup of Nations in Ismailia, Egypt; the women finish fourth.
  11. 2026The Nigeria Hockey Super League is played in Abuja, with the finals on 5 July.

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Quick answers

History of Nigerian hockey: quick answers

When did hockey come to Nigeria?

In 1928, four years after the International Hockey Federation was founded, spread by the British colonial administration and army.

Where does the word hockey come from?

It is often said to come from the old French word hoquet, a shepherd’s crook, describing the curved stick.