24th African Athletics Championships: Amusan and Fourie Renew Rivalry Over 100m hurdles in Accra

World record holder in the women’s 100m hurdles, Tobi Amusan, is set to launch her bid to reclaim the African Senior Athletics Championships title when the sprint hurdles event begins Tuesday evening at the Accra Sports Stadium.

The Nigerian star, who previously won the crown in 2018 and 2022, missed out two years ago in Cameroon due to illness.

Now 29 and in peak condition, Amusan faces a stern test from South Africa’s Marione Fourie, who leads the African rankings this season with a time of 12.67 seconds.

Although Amusan has yet to race over hurdles this year, she holds a 3-2 career head-to-head record against Fourie. However, the South African has claimed victory in their last two meetings, both at the Wanda Diamond League in China in 2025.

Amusan will be aiming to extend her record to 4-2 and secure a third continental crown, a feat previously achieved by Nigerian greats Maria Usifo and Glory Alozie.

For Fourie, the stakes are equally high. She is chasing her first African title, having lost to Amusan in the 2022 edition in Mauritius. Fourie heads a strong field of African hurdlers, with four athletes already dipping under 13 seconds this season.

Nigeria’s Adaobi Tabugo narrowly missed the mark with a 13.01 personal season’s best, while compatriot Janet Sunday hold’s a 13.67 best this season.