With two days to conclude the 22nd African Senior Athletics Championship in Mauritius, Team Nigeria has moved to the third spot have won two more gold medals and a bronze on Friday, increasing Nigeria’s medal haul to six – three gold, two silver, and a bronze.
South Africa and Kenya currently occupy the top two spots with five and four gold medals respectively.
Organised by the Confederation of African Athletics (CAA), the 2020 edition that was scheduled for d’Oran, Algeria was cancelled due to COVID-19 restriction, and the 22nd edition moved to Côte d’Or National Sports Complex, Mauritius.
Team Nigeria’s golden moment on Friday came in women’s Discus and women’s 4×100 metres.
Chioma Onyekwere with a mark of 58.19 metres successfully defended her title in the women’s Discus event.
The national record holder also won this same event during the last edition of the championship hosted by Nigeria in Asab.
There was more to cheer for Nigeria in the women’s discus event as Obiageri Amechi scooped the bronze in her maiden international appearance.
Her mark of 54.44 metres earned her a place on the podium.
In the women’s 4×100 metres event, the quartet of Praise Ofoku, Tima Godbless, Praise Idamadudu and Tobi Amusan gave a good account of themselves to win gold.
The Nigerian ladies posted a time of 44.45 econds to finish ahead of South Africa (44.87 seconds) and Gambia (44.97 seconds).
The latest gold was Nigeria’s 11th title in the women’s 4×100 metres in the history of the championships.
Nigeria is also the defending champion in this event as Joy Udo-Gabriel, Blessing Okagbare, Amusan, and Rosemary Chukwuma won gold in Asaba in 2018.
Friday was not all good for Team Nigeria as its men’s relay team of Raymond Ekevwo, Nicholas Mabilo, Ogho-Oghene Egwero, and Seye Ogunlewe finished fourth in their race.
There was also disappointment for Nigeria in the women’s 400 metres final where Patience George could only manage a fifth-place finish barely 24 hours after helping the country to a silver medal in the 4×400 metres Mixed Relay.
Team Nigeria will hope for more medals as action continues on Saturday in Mauritius.
