Day 2 of the CAA U-18/U-20 African Athletics Championships in Abeokuta witnessed a thrilling display of athletic excellence, with Team Nigeria lighting up the MKO Abiola Stadium with a series of standout performances in front of a high-profile audience.
Present to witness the action were the Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Alhaji Shehu Dikko, NSC Director General Hon. Bukola Olopade, and Ogun State Deputy Governor Engr. Noimot Salako-Oyedele, alongside CAA President Hamad Kalkaba Malboum, athletics legend Chief Segun Odegbami, Olympian Mary Onyali, and a vibrant crowd of fans.
Team Nigeria delivered a clean sweep in the girls’ U-18 100m final, asserting complete dominance on home soil. Miracle Ezechukwu stormed to gold with a time of 11.88 seconds, closely followed by Rosemary Nwankwo (11.96s), captain of the Invited Junior Athletes at the 22nd National Sports Festival.
Miriam Jegede rounded off the podium with bronze, clocking 12.20 seconds — marking a historic all-Nigerian finish.
The success continued in the girls’ U-20 100m final, where Chioma Nweke secured gold in 11.65 seconds, with compatriot Success Oyibu taking silver in 11.78 seconds.
Chiamaka Nwankwo narrowly missed a podium spot, finishing fourth with a respectable time of 11.98 seconds.
In the boys’ events, Nigeria added two bronze medals to their tally. Clifford Igbigbidje placed third in the U-18 100m final, finishing in 10.89 seconds.
In the U-20 category, John Caleb claimed bronze with a time of 10.61 seconds. Both races were highly competitive, with South African sprinters clinching gold and silver in each.
The day’s excitement peaked with the U-20 Mixed 4x400m Relay, where Nigeria delivered a dramatic victory.
In a back-and-forth race, anchor runner Favour Onyah surged past the South African anchor, who stumbled near the finish line, to secure Nigeria’s third gold medal of the day.
The victories added to Nigeria’s growing medal haul and fueled the electric atmosphere in Abeokuta.
With dignitaries and athletics stakeholders in attendance, the performance on Day 2 was a celebration of talent, national pride, and the promising future of African athletics.