Nigeria Ends African Athletics Championships with 12 Medals, Secures Four Golds

Nigeria closed out the 24th African Athletics Championships with a total of 12 medals, finishing fourth on the overall table after a strong final-day performance highlighted by a dominant women’s 4×100m relay victory.

The quartet of Esther Okon, Toheebat Jimoh, Jecinter Lawrence, and Patience Okon-George successfully defended Nigeria’s title in the event, powering home in 3:29.25 to finish comfortably ahead of Ethiopia and Kenya.

At the African Athletics Championships, Nigeria ended its campaign with 12 medals, as the Nigerian team controlled the race from start to finish, crossing the line nearly 30 metres ahead of their closest rivals to secure the country’s fourth gold medal of the championships.

On the final day, Nigeria also picked up a silver medal through Rosemary Chukwuma, who ran 23.60s in the women’s 200m, finishing behind Maboundou Kone of Ivory Coast, who won gold in 23.36s. Chukwuma ended the competition with an impressive three-medal haul, having already contributed to relay success and a silver in the 100m.

Nigeria’s overall medal campaign included standout performances from world record holder Tobi Amusan, who claimed gold in the 100m hurdles in 12.83s, while the mixed 4×400m relay team of Ezekiel Asuquo, Toheebat Jimoh, Victor Sampson, and Patience Okon-George also struck gold in 3:16.44.

The women’s 4×100m relay team of Rosemary Nwankwo, Jennifer Chukwuka, Rosemary Chukwuma, and Miracle Ezechukwu added another gold in 42.94s, reinforcing Nigeria’s relay dominance.

In the silver medal events, Oyesade Olatoye threw 69.60m to finish second in the hammer throw, while Divine Oladipo also secured silver in the discus. Nigeria’s men’s 4×100m relay team added another silver in 38.70s.

Bronze medals came from Adaobi Tabugbo in the 100m hurdles (13.26s), Chidera Ezeakor in the men’s 100m, and Obiageri Amaechi in the discus.

At the top of the standings, Kenya led the medal table with 17 medals, followed by South Africa and Ethiopia, while Nigeria finished fourth overall with four gold, five silver, and three bronze medals.