Team Nigeria Dominates 4th African Youth Games With 11 Medals

 Team Nigeria delivered an outstanding performance on the track as athletics events concluded at the 4th African Youth Games in Angola on Saturday, finishing with an impressive haul of 11 medals.

The Nigerian contingent secured a total of six gold and five silver medals, highlighting the country’s talented pipeline in youth athletics.

In the sprints, Nigeria made a strong statement in the 100 metres. Rosemary Chigozie Nwakwo clinched gold in the girls’ race, clocking 11.77 seconds. She finished ahead of South Africa’s Oluchi Ndubueze (silver, 12.12 seconds) and Morocco’s Maria Saadi (bronze, 12.27 seconds).

Meanwhile, the boys’ 100 metres, Emmanuel Akolo earned silver for Nigeria with a time of 10.76 seconds, finishing just behind gold medalist Micah Africa of South Africa (10.67 seconds).

The quarter-mile events also brought further success for Team Nigeria. Hafsoh Bisola Majekodunmi claimed gold in the girls’ 400 metres, producing a commanding performance to win in 55.16 seconds, ahead of Ethiopia’s Desta Kurni and Congo’s Maguerita Athouaby.

In the boys’ 400 metres, David Udoh ran an impressive race to secure silver with a time of 47.77 seconds, finishing just behind South Africa’s Fairlie Jaydon.

Also, in the field events, Timothy won gold in the triple jump, continuing Nigeria’s golden run. In the boys’ long jump, Godswill Anelechi Nkemakolam added silver to the medal tally, recording a best leap of 7.18 metres, second only to South Africa’s Jayden Fourie.

Nigeria also picked up medals in the hurdles and half-lap sprints. Gift Gowon won silver in the 400 metres hurdles, while Tejiri Ugoh struck gold in the girls’ 200 metres, crossing the line in 23.95 seconds, ahead of South Africa’s Isabella Gunter and Gambia’s Njie Adama.

In the boys’ 200 metres, Perfect Faye continued his impressive form on the continental stage, clocking a Season’s Best (SB) time of 21.47 seconds to claim silver for Team Nigeria.

The relay events capped off a memorable athletics campaign for the nation. The girls’ medley relay team (Miriam Jegede, Miracle Oluebube, Faith Ezechukwu, and Jacinter Lawrence) combined brilliantly to win gold. The boys’ medley relay team (Gift Gowon, Emmanuel Akolo, David Udoh, and Tosin Solomon Essan) also delivered a superb performance to secure gold.