Nigeria has made a tremendous progress in the 2023 African U-18 and U-20 Athletics Championships at Ndola, Zambia, having won a total of 12 medals on Day 2 of the competition. The Nigerian athletes won five Gold, three Silver and four Bronze medals, which is the highest number of medals recorded by a particular country in a single day in the history of the championship.
On Day 1 of the competition, Joma Oghenefejiro Praise and Oshiokpu Grace had won two gold medals in the U18 and U20 triple jump events, and two more medals, a silver and bronze, were won in the high jump event by the boys. The athletes set the entire city on fire on Day 2 by winning medals in all the events they participated in.
Ogazi Samuel won gold in the 400m Boys U18, while Okwose Faith won Nigeria’s fourth gold of the tournament in the 100m Girls U18. Tima Godbless won the 100m Women U20 event, and Ajayi Koyinsola won the 100m Men U20, where he grabbed the gold medal. Opeyemi Oke also raced to a gold in the 400m U20.
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The Nigerian silver medallists on Day 2 of the competition were Ewa Peace in the High Jump U18, Tiana Justina in the 100m Girls U18, and Onyah Favour in the 400m Girls U18. The country’s bronze medallists on Sunday night were Rukewe Godsgift in the Long Jump Boys U18, Ada Bright in the 400m Girl U20, Kingsley Nnorji in the 100m Men U20, and Rejoice Sule in the 100m Women U20.
A total of 42 athletes are representing Nigeria at the combined fourth African U-18 Championships and the 15th African U-20 Championships. Chief Tonobok Okowa, President of Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), expressed confidence in winning more medals on Monday, saying that the seven gold medals won in just two days of the competition is a clear indication that Nigerian athletes are well prepared for the battle of Ndola. The search for more medals in the competition continues in Ndola, Zambia.
