Tobi Amusan’s silver and Ezekiel Nathaniel’s record-breaking run highlighted Nigeria’s mixed but improved showing at the Tokyo World Athletics Championships.
Nigeria concluded its participation at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo with Tobi Amusan securing the nation’s sole medal, a silver in the women’s 100m hurdles.
Amusan, widely regarded as Nigeria’s most consistent global athlete, once again lived up to expectations, finishing second in her signature event to maintain her place among the world’s elite hurdlers.
The country’s campaign ended on a dramatic note when 22-year-old Ezekiel Nathaniel set a new national record of 47.11 seconds in the men’s 400m hurdles final, narrowly missing the podium with a fourth-place finish. It was the sixth time in 2025 that he lowered his own mark. The race briefly stirred controversy as officials initially awarded Nathaniel bronze after American Rai Benjamin clipped the last hurdle, but following an appeal, Benjamin was reinstated as champion.
Elsewhere, Kanyinsola Ajayi impressed by reaching the men’s 100m final, finishing sixth, while Chukwuebuka Enekwechi placed fifth in the men’s long jump. However, several athletes, including Rosemary Chukwuma and Ese Brume, fell short in their events.
Though marked by early exits, Nigeria’s Tokyo campaign showed progress compared to Budapest 2023, where the team left without a medal.