African Games: Tobi and Okezie Shine as Nigeria Adds to Gold Tally

• Tobi Amusan secured her third consecutive African Games gold medal in the women’s 100m hurdles with a time of 12.89 seconds
• Chidi Okezie won gold in the men’s 400m with a Personal Best time of 45.06 seconds, surpassing tough competitors

Team Nigeria continued to assert its dominance at the African Games in Accra, Ghana. On Wednesday, it secured four additional gold medals and one silver, further solidifying its position in second place behind South Africa.

Tobi Amusan, the reigning world record holder in women’s 100m hurdles, showcased her prowess by clinching her third consecutive African Games gold medal with a remarkable time of 12.89 seconds at the University of Ghana Sports Complex. Amusan had previously claimed gold at the 2015 edition in Congo Brazzaville and defended her title at the 2019 edition in Rabat, Morocco.

Chidi Okezie emerged as a standout performer, securing gold in the men’s 400m with a Personal Best (PB) time of 45.06 seconds. Okezie’s stellar performance saw him outpace formidable competitors, including Muzala Samukonga of Zambia and Diouf Cheick Tidiane, who clinched silver and bronze, respectively. Notably, Okezie had previously won bronze at the Rabat Games.

The men’s and women’s relay teams further contributed to Nigeria’s medal haul, clinching gold in their respective events. The men’s team triumphed in 38.41 seconds, while the women’s team dominated their race in 43.41 seconds.

Although Esther Elo Joseph narrowly missed out on gold in the women’s 400m, she showcased a commendable performance, securing silver with a time of 51.61 seconds, trailing behind Kenya’s Mary Moraa.

With this latest feat, Team Nigeria has accumulated 35 gold, 23 silver, and 32 bronze medals, totalling 88 overall. Meanwhile, South Africa trails closely behind with 29 gold, 30 silver, and 38 bronze medals, totalling 97 medals.

This remarkable achievement reinforces Nigeria’s status as a powerhouse in African sports, building on its success at the previous Games edition in Rabat, Morocco. With continued dedication and stellar performances from its athletes, Team Nigeria aims to maintain its strong position and further elevate its standing on the continent’s sporting stage.