African Games: Nigeria Wins Men And Women’s 4×100m Relay Gold

By: Gyang Dakwo

In a thrilling showdown in the men’s 4×100-meter relay, Team Nigeria outpaced their West African rivals, Ghana, by a margin of two seconds to seize gold at the 2023 African Games in Accra.

The Nigerian quartet, composed of Sunday Israel Okon, Ekanem Consider, Akintola Alaba Olukunle, and Itsekiri Usheoritse, avenged their defeat against their Ghanaian counterparts, who had snatched the gold five years ago in Rabat, Morocco.

With a swift time of 38.41 seconds, Nigeria executed flawless baton exchanges, particularly from the third leg to the anchor leg, which was anchored by Usheoritse.

Ghana’s anchor leg runner, Joseph Paul Amoah, put up a strong challenge and closed the gap despite a somewhat tricky baton exchange on the third leg, but Usheoritse maintained his composure to cross the line first.

In the women’s race Tobi Amusan played a pivotal role in guiding Team Nigeria to gold in the 4×100-meter relay on day three of athletics at the ongoing 13th African Games.

Affectionately known as the “Tobi Express,” Amusan demonstrated her remarkable athleticism by anchoring the relay leg just an hour after securing her third successive African Games gold medal in the women’s 100-meter hurdles.

Teaming up with Justina Tiana Eyakpobeyan, Olayinka Olajide, and Abinusawa Forehand, Amusan propelled the quartet to victory, crossing the finish line in a swift time of 43.05 seconds.

This triumph saw the Nigeria successfully defend its crown from five years ago in Rabat, Morocco.