Amusan Delivers Nigeria’s First Gold as Athletics Campaign Gains Momentum in Ghana

Nigeria’s charge at the 24th African Senior Athletics Championships in Accra gathered fresh momentum on Wednesday after world record holder Tobi Amusan powered to gold in the women’s 100m hurdles, handing the country its first gold medal of the competition.

The Nigerian star arrived in Ghana with expectations firmly on her shoulders, and she delivered with authority. After dominating both the heats and semi-finals with the fastest times, Amusan sealed the title in commanding fashion during the final, reinforcing her status as one of Africa’s greatest sprint hurdlers.

Her victory also marked another important milestone in Nigeria’s growing medal haul at the championships, pushing the country’s tally to four medals ahead of the men’s and women’s 100m finals scheduled for later on Wednesday evening.

Nigeria came close to producing a memorable one-two finish in the hurdles event, but Ashley Miller interrupted that possibility after finishing ahead of another Nigerian representative, Adaobi Tabugbo, who settled for bronze. For Tabugbo, a US-based hurdler, the podium finish represented her first individual medal for Nigeria on the international stage.

The final itself unfolded amid organisational concerns that have continued to trail the championships in Accra. As of press time, official times for the race had not been released due to ongoing technical challenges affecting the competition. Athletes and observers have raised concerns over a dysfunctional timing system, the absence of live results, incomplete race data without wind readings, and a series of inconsistent disqualifications that have created frustration throughout the event.

Despite the disruptions, Amusan’s performance remained one of the standout moments of the championships so far. Calm, explosive and technically sharp over the barriers, the former world champion once again showed why she remains a dominant force in African athletics.

Nigeria had opened its campaign on Tuesday with success in the women’s discus event, where Divine Oladipo and Obiageri Amaechi secured silver and bronze medals respectively.

Oladipo’s achievement carried extra significance as it marked her first international outing for Nigeria following her switch of allegiance from Great Britain. Amaechi’s bronze ensured Nigeria placed two athletes on the podium in the event, offering an early signal of the country’s ambitions in Accra.

Now, with Amusan adding gold to the mix, Team Nigeria’s campaign is beginning to reflect the depth, resilience and competitive spirit that continue to define the country’s athletics story on the continental stage.