The President of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), Chief Tonobok Okowa, has commended Nigerian sprinter Kanyinsola Ajayi following his impressive debut victory at the Wanda Diamond League meeting in Eugene, Oregon, United States.
Ajayi, the reigning NCAA 100 metres champion, produced a personal best of 9.84 seconds to win the men’s 100m at the Prefontaine Classic on Saturday, equalling the Nigerian national record. The 20-year-old finished ahead of Jamaica’s reigning world champion, Oblique Seville, who placed second in 9.89 seconds.
Also competing in Eugene, world record holder Tobi Amusan finished second in the women’s 100m hurdles in 12.34 seconds, behind American Masai Russell, who won the race in 12.24 seconds.
Reacting to the performances, Okowa described Ajayi’s victory as a major statement ahead of the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland.
“What a way to announce himself on the big stage. Ajayi has made a strong statement ahead of the 2026 Glasgow Commonwealth Games and the federation is very proud of his progress. He has remained consistent over the years, and winning the NCAA 100m title a few weeks ago is a testament to his remarkable ability,” Okowa said.
The AFN president also praised Amusan for maintaining her consistency at the highest level of the sport.
“Our darling Oluwatobi Amusan remains a worthy queen and a global icon. Her world record remains intact, and the best is yet to come. We appreciate her commitment to always representing Nigeria at international competitions, and the federation will continue to celebrate her achievements,” he said.
Okowa further acknowledged the performances of other Nigerian athletes who competed at the Prefontaine Classic, including Ezekiel Nathaniel, Chukwuebuka Enekwechi, Ella Onojuvwevwo and Favour Ofili.
He noted that Nathaniel competed in the men’s 400 metres instead of his usual 400m hurdles, while Enekwechi recorded a best throw of 21.36 metres to finish sixth in the men’s shot put event.
According to the AFN president, the performances of the athletes have reinforced confidence in Nigeria’s preparations for the 2026 Commonwealth Games.
“They have shown that they are in good shape. The AFN under the current board will continue to support the athletes and prioritise their welfare. With the opening of the national camp in Aberdeen, Scotland, and the support of the National Sports Commission, I am confident that Nigeria will perform well at the championships in Glasgow,” he said.
Meanwhile, Team Nigeria added another gold medal at the ongoing CAA U-18/U-20 Championships in Dakar, Senegal, after winning the girls’ U-18 medley relay. The victory increased the country’s gold medal tally to nine.
Okowa, who also serves as President of CAA Region II and Senior Vice President of the Confederation of African Athletics (CAA), expressed satisfaction with the performances of the young Nigerian athletes, describing their progress at the continental championships as encouraging.
