24th African Senior Athletics Championships: Nigeria Extends Wait for 200m Gold To 22 and 16 Years Respectively
The 24th African Senior Athletics Championships delivered thrilling sprint finals, but Nigeria’s long wait for individual 200m gold continues.
In the men’s 200m, Cheickna Traore of Côte d’Ivoire stormed to victory with a time of 20.32 seconds, securing gold ahead of Botswana’s Phaezel Prince Selepe, who clocked 20.43 seconds for silver. South Africa’s Mihlali Xotyeni claimed bronze in 20.57 seconds.
Nigeria’s Chidi Okezie finished sixth, extending the nation’s drought in the event to 22 years. The last Nigerian to win gold is Uche Emedolu in 2006.
The women’s 200m final told a similar story.
Rosemary Chukwuma of Nigeria added another medal to her impressive haul, taking silver in 23.60 seconds. Chukwuma, who already won gold in the 4x100m relay and silver in the 100m, was edged out by Côte d’Ivoire’s Maboundou Kone, who clinched gold in 23.36 seconds.
With this result, Nigeria’s wait for a women’s 200m gold stretches to 16 years with Gloria Asumnu the last Nigerian to win in 2012.
