Nigeria lit up the track on Day 2 of the 2025 African U18/U20 Athletics Championships at the MKO Abiola Sports Complex, Abeokuta, clinching three gold medals on Thursday, Bold Sports reports.
There were standout performances from Miracle Ezechukwu, Chioma Cynthia Nweke, and the mixed 4x400m relay team who all won gold medals for the host nation.
Ezechukwu delivered Nigeria’s first gold medal of the championships, storming to victory in the U-18 girls’ 100m final with a time of 11.88s (-0.4). Her win sparked a Nigerian sweep in the event, as Chigozie Rosemary Nwankwo (11.96s) and Mariam Jegede (12.20s) secured silver and bronze medals respectively.
In the U-20 women’s 100m final, Nigeria once again proved unstoppable. Chioma Cynthia Nweke, who had been the fastest through the rounds, lived up to her billing by taking gold in 11.65s (-1.9), leading a 1-2 finish with compatriot Success Oyibu in second. Ivory Coast’s Lou Yonan held off a late surge from Nigeria’s 15-year-old Lucy Nwankwo to take bronze.
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Nigeria’s third gold of the day came in thrilling fashion in the Mixed 4x400m relay final, where Favour Onyah anchored Team Nigeria to victory after South Africa’s anchor runner tripped just before the final bend. Onyah was already in the lead at that point, and he comfortably brought the baton home to a roaring home crowd.
Elsewhere, in the U-20 men’s 100m final, it was Kenya’s Clinton Owatinya who claimed the title in 10.42s (-1.7), holding off a determined effort from South Africa’s Karabo Letebele, the fastest man from the semifinals. Nigeria’s John Caleb executed a perfect dip at the finish line to snatch bronze, adding another medal to the host nation’s growing tally.
Letebele had looked like a strong contender after running 10.43s in the semifinals, but he appeared to be battling a muscle strain during the final, with visible taping on his thigh. Owatinya, meanwhile, continued his impressive run after clocking 10.36s (PB) in the semis and 10.38s in the heats.
The U-18 boys’ 100m final was won by South Africa’s Mukona Manavhela, who clocked 10.62s (0.1) to lead a South African 1-2 finish ahead of Jaydon Fourie, who skipped the Long Jump to run the sprint final. Nigeria’s James Clifford came through strongly in the closing stages to clinch bronze, ensuring another medal for the host nation.
In the earlier rounds, Nigeria’s Malik Oluwatobi finished 6th in his U-20 men’s 100m semifinal, while John Caleb did just enough to book a place in the final, later turning that chance into a bronze medal.
South Africa’s Phenyo Miyen also made headlines in the U-18 boys’ 110m hurdles, clocking 13.38s in the heats—well clear of the field. The 2025 world U-18 leader and African record holder (12.91s) showed his class, with Egypt’s Ashour Youssef trailing in second in 13.98s.
Nigeria’s Day 2 heroics at the 2025 African U-18/U-20 Athletics Championships, added to their Day 1 display where Praise Ikweki won the country’s first medal of the competition, clinching bronze in the boys’ U-18 high jump event.
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