Eseme, Azamati hurdle for Itshekiri, Consider in African Games 100m final

The men’s 100m final of the 13th African Games will hold at the University of Ghana spors ground on Tuesday eening with two Nigerians, Ushoritse Itshekiri
and Consider Emmanuel seeking to defend the gold medal won by their compatriot, Raymond Ekevwo at the 12th edition ofthe games five years ago.

Ushoritse Itshekiri and Consider Emmanuel will however have to perfectly scale the daunting hurdles in the form of home boy, Benjamin Azamati and Cameroon’s
Emmanuel Eseme.

Since the inauguration edition of the games, Nigeria have successfully defended the men’s 100m once and that was when Olusoji Fasuba succeeded Deji Aliu in
2007 as champion.

Then, Fasuba was clearly the best sprinter in the continent having won the African Championships gold the previous year and set the then African record
around that period.

The scenario is a bit different this time as Itshekiri and Consider are not considered among the best in Africa at the moment.

In fact, the best African sprinters in the last one year, Ferdinand Omanyala of Kenya who wons the African record, South Africa’s Akani Simbine and
Botswana’s Leslie Tebogo are not in Accra for the Games.

What we have are Africa’s second best and the best of them will emerge champions Tuesday evening.

It is necessary to add that only Azamati and Eseme have brokn 10 seconds in the event among the eight competitors fighting to make the podium in the blue
ribband event.

While Itshekiri will be competing against Azamati over the 100m for the first time, the Nigerian has a 1-1 head to head record against Eseme. He also holds a
3-0 record against his compatriot, Consider.

For Azamati, this will be the fifth meeting between him and Eseme with the Cameroonian leading 3-1 in head to head confrontations.

Men’s 100m final: Start List

2.Gilbert Hainuca (NAM) – 10.46s

3.Camara Ebrahima (GAM) – 10.45s

4.Consider Ekanem (NGR) – 10.37s

5.Benjamin Azamati (GHA) – 10.41s

6.Emmanuel Eseme (CMR) – 10.23s

7.Usheoritse Itsekiri (NGR) – 10.29s

8.Aggerh Barnabas (GHA) – 10.42s

9.Bibi Gary Noa Jereel (MAR) – 10.47s