Amusan Begins Season Smoothly, Cruises Into 100m Hurdles Final
World record holder Tobi Amusan made an assured start to her season, qualifying comfortably for the women’s 100m hurdles final after clocking 12.82s in the heats.
It was her first race of the year over hurdles, yet she showed little sign of rust, controlling her heat with composure and efficiency as she eased through qualification without unnecessary strain.
She was joined in the final by compatriot Janet Sunday, who impressed on her African Championships debut. Sunday finished second in her heat behind Ghana’s record holder Evonne Britton, earning a well-deserved place in the medal race and marking a strong introduction to continental competition.
False Start Drama and Redemption for Ashe in Men’s 100m
The men’s 100m delivered early tension for Nigeria as Favour Ashe initially faced disqualification for a false start.
However, after an official appeal from Nigeria, he was reinstated and allowed to continue in the competition. Taking his second chance, Ashe ran 10.55s, placing 24th overall and securing progression to the semi-finals scheduled for Wednesday.
The race added an emotional twist to Nigeria’s sprint campaign, turning what looked like an early exit into continued participation.
Ezeakor Shines, Defeats Ghana’s Fastest in 100m Heat
One of the standout performances came from Chidera Ezeakor, who produced a confident run in the men’s 100m heats.
He stunned the home crowd by beating Ghana’s top sprinter Abdul-Rasheed Saminu, winning his heat in 10.38s to book a spot in the semi-finals. His controlled finish and strong acceleration over the final metres underlined his growing form on the continental stage.
Chukwuma Leads Women’s Sprint Charge
In the women’s 100m, Rosemary Chukwuma spearheaded Nigeria’s efforts, comfortably advancing to the semi-finals after finishing her heat in 11.44s.
She was joined by Miracle Ezechukwu, who won her heat to secure automatic qualification, while Tejiri Ugoh also progressed after finishing third in her race.
The trio ensured Nigeria maintained strong representation in the women’s sprint categories heading into the next round.
400m Contenders Also Progress as Nathaniel Leads the Way
Nigeria’s quarter-mile athletes also delivered solid performances across both men’s and women’s events.
Samson Nathaniel timed his race expertly in the men’s 400m, pulling away at the finish to edge competitors including Uganda’s Omuka Kenneth and Kenya’s Musika Malongo.
He was joined in the next round by Sikiru Adeyemi, who finished third in his heat to secure qualification.
On the women’s side, Esther Okon also advanced, rounding off a strong collective showing for Nigeria in the 400m events.
With multiple finalists and semi-finalists already secured across disciplines, Nigeria’s campaign in Ghana has begun with momentum—setting the stage for more competitive showdowns as the championships progress.