Under the watchful eyes of the Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Alhaji Shehu Dikko, the Director General, Hon. Bukola Olopade, and the Deputy Governor of Ogun State, Engr. Noimot Salako-Oyedele, Day 2 of the ongoing CAA U18/U20 African Athletics Championship lit up with Nigerian brilliance on home soil at the MKO Abiola Stadium in Abeokuta.
It was a clean sweep in the girls’ 100m U-18 final as Team Nigeria asserted its dominance sweeping all medals in the category on Thursday.
Miracle Ezechukwu blazed to gold in 11.88secs, as she was followed closely by Rosemary Nwankwo (11.96secs), captain of the Invited Junior Athletes at the 22nd National Sports Festival, while Miriam Jegede clinched bronze with 12.20secs, completing a historic podium takeover.
The momentum carried into the U-20 girls’ 100m final, where Nigeria bagged gold and silver. Chioma Nweke stormed to first place in 11.65secs, followed by Success Oyibu with 11.78secs. Although Nigeria’s third finalist, Chiamaka Nwankwo, narrowly missed the podium, she showed great promise, finishing fourth in 11.98secs.
In the boys’ category, Nigeria kept the flag flying with two bronze medals. Clifford Igbigbidje clocked 10.89secs in the U-18 100m final, while John Caleb’s 10.61secs finish earned him bronze in the U-20 final. Both races were fiercely contested, with South Africa taking gold and silver in both events.
Capping off a thrilling day, Nigeria triumphed in the U-20 Mixed 4x400m Relay. In a race that swung back and forth, Nigeria’s anchor, Favour Onyah, held firm and surged ahead to secure gold after South Africa’s anchor stumbled near the finish. That victory sealed Nigeria’s third gold of the day, following the earlier wins in the girls’ 100m U-18 and U-20 events.
Dignitaries including CAA President Hamad Kalkaba Malboum, sports legend, Chief Segun Odegbami, Olympian Mary Onyali, and other key stakeholders were in attendance, joining thousands of spirited fans who turned out to witness the future of African athletics.
