Chijioke Gabriel
Nigeria concluded their campaign at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo with Tobi Amusan as the nation’s sole medallist, securing silver in the women’s 100m hurdles. Her consistency once again underscored her status as Nigeria’s most reliable global performer, ensuring the delegation did not leave Japan empty-handed.
The championships ended dramatically for Team Nigeria as Ezekiel Nathaniel smashed his own national record in the men’s 400m hurdles, clocking 47.11 seconds in the final. The 22-year-old finished fourth, narrowly missing a medal but setting his sixth Nigerian record of 2025 in a performance that confirmed his rise among the world’s elite.
The men’s 400m hurdles final was not without controversy. American Rai Benjamin, who clipped the last hurdle on his way to victory in 46.52 seconds, was briefly disqualified amid claims that the displaced barrier obstructed another competitor. For a tense few minutes, Nathaniel was listed as the bronze medallist, which would have been Nigeria’s first men’s World Championship medal since Francis Obikwelu’s silver in 1999. Following an appeal, however, Benjamin was reinstated, pushing Nathaniel back to fourth place.
Brazil’s Alison dos Santos (46.84) took silver and Qatar’s Abderrahman Samba (47.06) claimed bronze. Despite the setback, Nathaniel’s record-breaking run demonstrated that he is edging closer to becoming a regular global medallist.
Elsewhere, sprinter Kanyinsola Ajayi made headlines by reaching the men’s 100m final, where he finished sixth against a star-studded field. Udodi Onwuzurike advanced to the men’s 200m semi-finals but fell short of the final, while Israel Okon impressed early before bowing out in the men’s 100m semis.
In the women’s events, Rosemary Chukwuma was eliminated in the 100m heats, and both Chidi Okezie and Samuel Ogazi failed to progress beyond the men’s 400m heats. In the field, Chukwuebuka Enekwechi managed a fifth-place finish in the men’s long jump final, but Nigeria’s throwers struggled, with Chioma Onyekwere-Lyons, Obiageri Amaechi, and Sade Olatoye all exiting in the early rounds. Ese Brume, Prestina Ochonogor, and Charles Godfred also failed to advance in the long jump.
Overall, Nigeria’s Tokyo campaign offered a blend of promise and painful lessons. Amusan’s silver medal and Nathaniel’s national record were the high points, while Ajayi’s presence in the men’s 100m final reaffirmed Nigeria’s sprinting pedigree. However, the string of early exits highlighted the intense global competition and the urgent need for greater depth and preparation in the throws and jumps.
The outcome marked an improvement from the previous World Championships in Budapest, where Nigeria failed to win any medals. Still, officials and athletes will be hoping for a broader medal haul in upcoming competitions.