Adedapo Adesanya
By Adedapo Adesanya
It was an impressive performance for Nigeria at the just-concluded 13th African Games in Ghana as the team came second with 120 medals of 47 gold, 33 silver, and 40 bronze medals.
Despite a slow start, the Nigerian athletes were able to go on an impressive run with domination in weightlifting and track events, particularly in athletics.
Tobi Amusan successfully defended her 100 meters hurdles title, becoming the first high hurdler to win three consecutive gold medals at the Games.
Ese Brume made history by becoming the second woman to retain a long jump title after Modupe Oshikoya, while Chidi Okezie delivered another historic moment, winning Nigeria’s first 400 meters gold medal in 37 years.
The women’s 4×400 meters relay team made up of – Patience Okon-George, Omolara Omotosho-Ohunmakinju, Brittany Ogunmokun, and Esther Elo Joseph – continued their legacy by winning their 10th consecutive gold in the Games’ history.
Their male counterparts consisting of the quartet of Emmanuel Ojeli, Samson Nathaniel, Adewale Sikiru, and Chidi Okezie came third.
Nigeria’s Olayinka excelled winning gold, silver, and bronze medals in three athletics categories winning gold with the 4×100 meters relay, coming second in the 200 meters, and coming third in the Women’s 100 meters race.
Chukwuebuka Enekwechi secured his place in history as the first Nigerian to retain a Shot Put gold medal at the Games.
Chinecherem Nnamdi set a new national record of 82.80m in javelin while Adijat Olarinoye, Rafiatu Lawal, and Edidiong Umoafia achieved triple gold feats in their respective weight categories.
Nigerian women athletes were responsible for 71 per cent of Nigeria’s gold haul with 35 gold medals won by them while their male counterparts had 12 gold medals.
Eventual champions, Egypt, pulled the most impressive performance since the African Games started in 1965 as it had a record of 101 gold, 46 silver, and 42 bronze totalling 189 medals.
South Africa finished third with 106 medals, followed by Algeria in fourth with 114 medals while the host nation Ghana was sixth with 68 medals.
