Ashe, Chukwuma, Okezie, Okon George Lead 100m, 400m Charge as Nigeria Seeks Sprint Redemption in Accra
Nigeria’s quest for redemption in the sprints and quarter-mile events takes center stage on Day One of the 24th African Senior Athletics Championships in Accra.
The men’s and women’s 100m and 400m races open the competition, with Nigerian athletes determined to end long waits for continental glory.
In the men’s 100m, Favour Ashe and 2021 Olympic finalist Enoch Adegoke spearhead Nigeria’s charge. Though not considered favorites, their task is made lighter by the absence of heavyweights such as former champions Akani Simbine and Ferdinand Omanyala, and Olympic 200m champion Letsile Tebogo.
Nigeria has not celebrated a men’s 100m champion since Olusoji Fasuba’s historic hat-trick, completed in 2008. Since then, the closest Nigeria has come was in 2014, when American-born athletes Mark Jelks (silver) and Monzavous Edwards (bronze) delivered medals.
On the women’s side, Rosemary Chukwuma leads a formidable contingent that includes Miracle Ezechukwu and Maria Thompson Omokwe.
Chukwuma, the African leader with a season-best 10.95, enters as the overwhelming favorite to reclaim Nigeria’s crown in the event. Nigeria last celebrated a women’s 100m champion in 2014, when Blessing Okagbare won her second title in Marrakech.
The redemption narrative extends to the 400m.
Nigeria’s men have endured a 28-year drought since Clement Chukwu stormed to gold in Dakar in 1998 with a then-Championship record of 44.65.
Chidi Okezie, bronze medalist in 2018, will lead the charge. He already rewrote history two years ago on the same track, becoming the first Nigerian in 38 years to win the African Games 400m title after Innocent Egbunike’s 1987 triumph.
Okezie faces stiff competition from South Africa’s Lythe Pillay (44.32 SB) and Botswana’s Justice Oratile (44.61 SB, PB), both confirmed sub-45 runners this season.
For the women, veteran Patience Okon George anchors Nigeria’s hopes.
A bronze medalist 10 years ago, she now seeks to upgrade to gold and become only the second Nigerian woman in 12 years to win the African 400m crown after Folashade Abugan.
Okon George, with a season’s best of 51.70, will look to summon her experience in what could be her final bid for continental glory.
Nigeria’s athletes enter Day One with history on their minds, determined to end years of waiting and restore the nation’s sprint and quarter-mile dominance.
