African Games: Nigeria claims gold in mixed 4x400m, sets new record

Nigeria has won the gold medal in the mixed 4×400 meters relay at the 2024 African Games in Ghana.

The quartet of Emmanuel Ojeli, Patience Okon-George, Adeyemi Sikiru and Omolara Ogunmakinju also set a new African record with a time of 3:13.26 on Tuesday evening.

The team retired the earlier record of 3:13.60, which Nigeria also set in the semi-final of the mixed relay race at the Tokyo Olympics.

In the men’s shot put, Chukwuebuka Enekwechi defended his title and claimed gold with a 20.06-meter mark.

Enekwechi’s throw was one metre ahead of Egypt’s duo Mostafa Hassan and Mohamed Hamza, who threw 20.70 meters and 20.29 meters to finish in second and third, respectively.

In the women’s triple jump event, Ruth Usoro clinched gold medal with an unimpeachable leap of 13.80 meters in her third attempt.

She defeated Kenya’s Winny Bil and Saly Sal of Senegal, who won the silver and bronze medals.

In Taekwondo, Elizabeth Anyanacho defeated Egypt’s Aya Shehata in the final of the women’s under-65kg category.

Anyanacho had won bronze in the same category at the 2019 edition of the African Games in Rabat, Morocco.

However, Usheoritse Itsekiri could only win a silver medal in the men’s 100-meter race. He clocked at 10.23 seconds to finish second behind Cameroon’s Emmanuel Eseme, who clinched the gold medal.

Olayinka Olajide became the first Nigerian to make the women’s 100-meter race podium at the African Games in 12 years after claiming a bronze medal.

The race was won by Gambia’s Gina Bass, who clocked 11.36 seconds and was followed by Liberia’s Maia McCoy with 11.49 seconds.

Photo credit: Noma Photography