Team Nigeria amasses 11 medals as athletics ends at African Youth Games
Team Nigeria delivered an outstanding performance as athletics events concluded at the 4th African Youth Games in Angola on Saturday, finishing with an impressive haul of 11 medals — six gold and five silver — to underline the country’s strength in youth athletics.
Nigeria made a strong statement in the 100 metres. Rosemary Chigozie Nwakwo won gold in the girls’ race with a time of 11.77 seconds, ahead of South Africa’s Oluchi Ndubueze and Morocco’s Maria Saadi. In the boys’ event, Emmanuel Akolo claimed silver, finishing second to South Africa’s Micah Africa.
The quarter-mile races produced further success. Hafsoh Bisola Majekodunmi secured gold in the girls’ 400 metres, winning in 55.16 seconds ahead of Ethiopia’s Desta Kurni and Congo’s Maguerita Athouaby.
In the boys’ 400 metres, David Udoh earned silver with a time of 47.77 seconds, finishing just behind South Africa’s Fairlie Jaydon.
Nigeria also excelled in the field events. Timothy maintained the golden run by winning gold in the triple jump, while Godswill Anelechi Nkemakolam claimed silver in the boys’ long jump with a leap of 7.18 metres.
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, clocking 23.95 seconds ahead of South Africa’s Isabella Gunter and Gambia’s Njie Adama.
The boys’ 200 metres saw Perfect Faye continue his strong form, posting a season’s best 21.47 seconds to secure silver for Team Nigeria.
The campaign ended on a high note in the relays, as both the girls’ and boys’ medley relay teams combined superbly to win gold, rounding off a memorable athletics outing for Nigeria.
