Nigeria wrapped up the 24th African Athletics Championships with 12 medals after the women’s 4x400m relay team produced a dominant gold-medal performance on the final day of competition.
The quartet of Esther Okon, Toheebat Jimoh, Jecinter Lawrence and Patience Okon-George successfully defended Nigeria’s title in the event, clocking 3:29.25 to finish ahead of Ethiopia and Kenya.
Team Nigeria controlled the race from the opening lap and crossed the finish line almost 30 metres clear of their closest rivals, securing the country’s fourth gold medal of the championships.
The result helped Nigeria finish fourth on the overall medals table with four gold, five silver and three bronze medals, behind Kenya, South Africa and Ethiopia.
Kenya topped the standings with 17 medals, including six gold, four silver and seven bronze, while South Africa also won six gold medals alongside two silver and six bronze. Ethiopia finished third with five gold, four silver and six bronze medals.
Nigeria’s only other medal on the final day came from Rosemary Chukwuma, who claimed silver in the women’s 200m after posting a time of 23.60 seconds.
Chukwuma finished behind Ivory Coast’s Maboundou Kone, who won gold in 23.36 seconds, but the Nigerian sprinter still emerged as one of the country’s standout athletes at the championships with three medals.
She had earlier won gold in the women’s 4x100m relay and silver in the women’s 100m.
World record holder Tobi Amusan also led Nigeria’s medal charge by winning gold in the women’s 100m hurdles in 12.83 seconds.
Nigeria’s mixed 4x400m relay team of Ezekiel Asuquo, Toheebat Jimoh, Victor Sampson and Patience Okon-George added another gold medal after clocking 3:16.44.
The women’s 4x100m relay team of Rosemary Nwankwo, Jennifer Chukwuka, Rosemary Chukwuma and Miracle Ezechukwu also secured gold in 42.94 seconds.
In other events, Oyesade Olatoye won silver in the women’s hammer throw with a mark of 69.60m, while Divine Oladipo claimed silver in the discus event. Nigeria’s men’s 4x100m relay team also earned silver after finishing in 38.70 seconds.
Adaobi Tabugbo took bronze in the women’s 100m hurdles with a time of 13.26 seconds, while Chidera Ezeakor added another bronze in the men’s 100m after clocking 10.318 seconds. Obiageri Amaechi had earlier secured Nigeria’s opening bronze medal of the championships.
