Amusan, Enekwechi Lead Team Nigeria to African Senior Athletics Championships in Accra, Ghana

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World 100m hurdles record holder Tobi Amusan and shot putter Chukwuebuka Enekwechi headline Nigeria’s 45-man team named Thursday by the Athletics Federation of Nigeria for the African Senior Athletics Championships, which start next week in Accra, Ghana.

Also named are sprinters Rosemary Chukwuma, Miracle Ezechukwu, Favour Ashe, and 2020 Olympic 100m finalist Enoch Adegoke.

Amusan will be competing in the high hurdles, where she will be aiming for a third title win after claiming the title in 2018 and 2022, while illness denied her a hat-trick of wins in Cameroon two years ago.

If she wins, she will become the first African woman to win the 100m hurdles at the African Championships and African Games three times.

Enekwechi, the Olympic, World, and Diamond League finalist, will be gunning for a hat-trick of titles after winning in 2022 and 2024.

Aiming for her first-ever continental title in the senior category is Chukwuma, who is the favourite to win the 100m gold and become the first Nigerian to do so since 2014, when Blessing Okagbare ran a then 11.00 seconds Championships record.

Also aiming for her first African Championships title but second continental glory is Ruth Usoro. The long jumper will be aiming to succeed compatriot Ese Brume, who did not make the Nigerian team and will not be defending her title. Usoro won the triple jump gold at the African Games two years ago in Accra.

Jessica Oji, the new Nigeria and African shot put record holder, will be making her debut for Nigeria after her switch of allegiance and looks to make it a gold-winning one, as she is coming to the Championships as the African leader.

In the women’s discus throw, Obiageri Amaechi will be seeking to win the gold this time after bronze in 2022 and silver two years later.

For the hammer throw, Oyesade Olatoye will be aiming to successfully defend her title after turning silver in 2022 to gold in 2024.

In the men’s 100m, Favour Ashe and Adegoke face the daunting task of becoming the first Nigerian man to win the 100m title since 2008, when reigning Nigeria record holder Olusoji Fasuba completed his historic hat-trick of blue riband event wins.

Chidi Okezie is returning to Accra, where he won the African Games 400m gold, with his eyes set on emulating Innocent Egbunike as the second Nigerian man to win the African Games and the African Championships 400m gold within three years, at most of winning either of the titles.

Nigeria will be aiming to dethrone South Africa, who won two years ago with 19 medals, the same as Nigeria but with nine gold to Nigeria’s five.

The championships in Accra will provide another major platform for Nigerian athletes to test themselves against the continent’s best as preparations continue for the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland.

TEAM NIGERIA TO CAA SENIOR ATHLETICS CHAMPIONSHIPS

FEMALE

100M/4×100M
Rosemary Chukwuma
Miracle Ezechukwu
Maria-Thopmson Omokwe
Tejiri Ugoh

200M
Jennifer Obi Chukuma
Rosemary Nwankwo

400M/4×400M RELAY
Patience Okon George
Treasure Okereke
Siviana Ossai
Esther Okon Peter
Jimoh Toheebat

800M
Comfort Anietie James

1500M/STEEPLE CHASE
Aderonke Akanbi

100MH
Tobi Amusan
Adaobi Tabugbo
Janet Sunday

HIGH JUMP
Clergy Edet
Treasure Omosivwe

LONG JUMP
Ruth Usoro
Favour Olise

JAVELIN
Victoria Kparika

SHOT PUT
Divine Oladipupo
Jessica Oji