Drama in Cameroon as Ofili, Chukwuma, Ta Lou-Smith fail to start 100m semis, Tebogo disqualified!

It was a drama made for Netflix at the ongoing 23rd African Athletics Championships in Douala, Cameroon following the decision by some high profile African sprinters not to show up for their respective semifinal heats in the women’s 100m and Lestile Tebogo false-starting in the men’s 100m and getting disqualified.

The Nigerian duo of Favour Ofili and Rosemary Chukwuma failed to file out for their semifinal heats while 2018 champion, Marie Jose Ta Lou-Smith also did not start.

In their absence, the coast seems very clear for defending champion, Gina Bass of The Gambia to defend the title she first won two years ago in Mauritius.

She will have Nigeria’s Olayinka Olajide whom she defeated at the African Games in March to contend with in the final.

For the men, Tebogo, the pre-race favourite was disqualified for false-starting while Nigeria’s Kanyinsola Ajayi sped to his first African Championships 100m final.

He finished second in the race behind Cote d’Ivoire’s by Ismael Kone who won in 10.03 seconds.