Team Nigeria delivered a commanding performance on the final day of the 3rd CAA African U-18/U-20 Athletics Championships, sealing its status as the continent’s youth athletics powerhouse with a string of gold medals and championship records at the MKO Abiola Stadium in Abeokuta.
Leading the charge was Miracle Ezechukwu, who completed a remarkable treble by winning the U-18 girls’ 200m final in a personal best time of 23.87 seconds. Her compatriots Chigozie Nwankwo (24.01s) and Perezide Sigah (24.26s) followed closely behind to secure a clean sweep for Nigeria in the event.
Ezechukwu had earlier clinched gold medals in both the 100m and the sprint medley relay, marking her as one of the standout athletes of the championship. Speaking after the race, she described the tournament as “a dream come true,” and thanked her coach and the organizers for their support.
Shortly after, Nigeria repeated the feat in the U-20 women’s 200m, with Success Oyibu blazing to a new personal best of 23.56 seconds to win gold. She was joined on the podium by Chioma Cynthia Nweke (23.95s), the U-20 100m champion, and Lucy Nwankwo (24.24s), completing another 1-2-3 finish for the host nation.
“I give glory to God for this moment,” Oyibu said. “Our training camp prepared us well, and it’s a blessing to be part of this team.”
Nigeria’s gold rush continued in the relays. The U-20 women’s 4x400m relay team of Odot Udo, Toheebat Jimoh, Anita Enaruna, and Favour Onyah not only won gold but also set a new championship record of 3:37.02, breaking a record that had stood since 1997. The team finished almost eight seconds ahead of South Africa, underlining their dominance.
The U-20 men’s 4x400m team of Victor Sampson, David Akhalu, Gafar Badmus, and Ezekiel Asuquo closed out the evening with another record-breaking performance. Their winning time of 3:06.66 erased a long-standing championship mark, capping a glittering final day for the host nation.
Earlier in the day, Nigeria also won a protest concerning its U-20 men’s 4x100m relay team. Initially disqualified over an alleged baton exchange violation, the Confederation of African Athletics (CAA) ruled in Nigeria’s favour, reinstating the gold medal for the quartet of Saliu Toyeeb, Joachim Uyovwiyoma, John Caleb, and Malik Oluwatobi. The win marked Nigeria’s third consecutive title in the event.
While Nigeria dominated the sprint and relay events, athletes from other African nations also made their mark. South Africa’s Mukona Manavhela won his third gold medal by taking the U-18 boys’ 200m title in 21.29 seconds, capping an excellent individual campaign.
Justice Oratile of Botswana completed a sprint double in the U-20 category, adding the 200m gold (21.02s) to his earlier 400m title. In the hurdles events, South Africa’s Tumi Ramokgopa swept both the U-20 women’s 100m hurdles and 400m hurdles, while her teammate Myburgh Stiaan recovered from a stumble to clinch gold in the U-18 boys’ 400m hurdles with a time of 52.71 seconds.
