Oluchi Ndubueze: The Nigerian-Born Star Who Could Deny Nigeria Gold at CAA U18 and U20 Championships in Abeokuta

At just 16, Oluchi Abelwe Ndubueze is preparing to step onto the biggest stage of her young career — the CAA African U18 and U20 Championships in Abeokuta, Nigeria.

But this isn’t just another meet. It’s a homecoming of sorts, and a showdown that pits her against the country of her birth.

Born in Nigeria to a Nigerian father and South African mother, Oluchi now competes for South Africa, where she’s risen through the ranks as a sprinter and long jumper.

Her story began with a burst of speed — literally — when she outran a stray dog at age six. That moment sparked a journey that’s led her to the top of the African rankings.

In the Girls U18 100m, Oluchi enters with a personal best of 11.92 seconds, placing her 4th in Africa for 2025. She trails two South Africans and two Nigerians — a rivalry that’s as personal as it is continental.

But it’s in the long jump where she truly shines. Her 6.20m leap in March is the best in Africa this season, making her the favorite for gold.

If she wins, she’ll deny her Nigerian counterparts a title on home soil — a twist that adds emotional weight to an already high-stakes competition.

‘My name is Oluchi Ndubueze. I’m competing in the Girls U18 100m and long jump events, and my goal is to reach the final and hopefully contest for a medal,’ she said in a video message shared by Athletics South Africa.

As the championships kick off in Abeokuta, the question looms: Will Oluchi Ndubueze — the Nigerian-born South African — be the one to break Nigerian hearts in Nigeria?