Team Nigeria enjoyed a highly successful outing in athletics on Saturday at the ongoing African Youth Games (AYG) in Luanda, as Rosemary Nwankwo, Tejiri Ugoh and Hafsoh Majekodunmi combined to deliver three gold medals.
In the girls’ sprints, Tejiri Ugoh produced a standout performance to claim gold in the 200m, stopping the clock at 23.95 seconds.
She finished comfortably ahead of South Africa’s Isabella Gunter, who took silver in 25.38s, while Gambia’s Njie Adama secured bronze in 26.01s.
Nigeria also reached the podium in the boys’ 200m, where Perfect Faye ran 21.47s to earn silver, finishing behind South Africa’s Jayden Fourie, who won gold in 20.88s.
Another gold medal came in the girls’ 400m, as Hafsoh Majekodunmi dominated the quarter-mile, crossing the line in 55.16s. Ethiopia’s Desta Kurni settled for silver in 56.74s, while Congo’s Maguerita Athouaby claimed bronze in 58.22s. I
In the boys’ 400m, South Africa’s Fairlie Jaydon edged Nigeria’s David Udoh to gold, clocking 47.66s against Udoh’s 47.77s, with Ghana’s Agyaemang Evans taking bronze in 48.23s.
Rosemary Chigozie Nwankwo stormed to gold in the girls’ 100m, posting 11.77s ahead of South Africa’s Oluchi Ndubueze (12.12s) and Morocco’s Maria Saadi (12.27s).
In the boys’ race, Emmanuel Akolo ran 10.76s to secure silver, finishing just behind South Africa’s Micah Africa, who won gold in 10.67s, while Namibia’s Mouton Miheshco claimed bronze in 10.78s.
Nigeria also impressed in the field events, as Godswill Anelechi Nkemakolam won silver in the boys’ long jump with a best effort of 7.18m.
South Africa’s Jayden Fourie claimed gold with a leap of 7.59m to complete a double at the Games, while Algeria’s Leith Bencharef settled for bronze.
The African Youth Games which is open for athletes aged 14-17 runs until December 20, 2025, and also serve as qualification for the 2026 Youth Olympics to be hosted by Dakar, Senegal
Tejiri Ugoh
