Team Nigeria’s representatives were in action on Monday as the athletic events kicked off in the ongoing 13th African Games in Accra, Ghana.
Three athletes, each in the men’s and women’s categories, were in action for Nigeria in the heats of the 100m events, with all six progressing to the semi-finals.
Into the semifinals – all three Naija???????? representatives in the women’s 100m won their respective heats to set the tone for Nigeria at the commencement of Athletics at the #AfricanGames2023.
Interestingly all three of them are making their 1st appearances at the African Games.… pic.twitter.com/tSaqKDHf5p
— Making of Champions (@MakingOfChamps) March 18, 2024
The trio of Olajide Olayinka, Justina Eyakpobeyan, and Blessing Ogundiran, debuting at the African Games, all won their respective heats. Eyakpobeyan, who advanced with the second overall fastest time, won heat 3 in a time of 11.43s; Olayinka was victorious in heat 4, running a time of 11.51s; while Ogundiran progressed as heat 5 winner with a time of 11.65s.
Usheoritse Itsekiri ????????was the fastest Nigerian in the men’s 100m heats at the African Games, clocking a time of 10.19s (-0.1). He finished 2nd behind Emmanuel Eseme ???????? who ran 10.15s.
Consider Ekanem won his heat in 10.43s, while Sunday Israel Okon finished 2nd in his own heat…
— Making of Champions (@MakingOfChamps) March 18, 2024
In the men’s category, the trio of Usheoritse Itsekiri, Consider Ekanem, and Sunday Israel Okon all secured spots in the semi-finals.
Itsekiri, who is competing in his second African Games after winning the bronze medal last time out in Rabat, clocked the second fastest overall time in the men’s 100m heat, racing past the finishing line in a time of 10.19s. He finished second in heat 1 behind Cameroon’s Emmanuel Eseme, who ran 10.15s.
Likewise, Okon, in his maiden senior appearance for Nigeria, also finished second in heat 5 with a time of 10.54s, behind Ghana’s Benjamin Azamati (10.55s). Ekanem, on the other hand, won heat 6 with a time of 10.44s to ensure that Nigeria will have all of its representatives in the semi-finals of the men’s 100m event.
