Top officials of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) were visibly happy with the return to action of women’s 100 metres hurdles world record holder, Tobi Amusan, to action after some days off the tracks due to sickness.
Amusan led Nigeria’s 4×100 metres women’s relay team to the gold medal at the ongoing African Senior Athletics Championships in Douala, Cameroon on Monday.
This feat, just a few hours after being certified fit to return to action, thrilled AFN officials that they predicted that the hurdler would be among the medallists at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, which begins next month.
Amusan was in her best elements as she led the team also comprising Justina Eyakpobeyan, Tima Godbless, and Olayinka Olajide to the gold medal. She had earlier missed her 100m hurdles event due to illness.
Speaking on Amusan’s return after the relay final at the Japoma Stadium, Douala, AFN President, Tonobok Okowa, said: “I was really worried on my arrival in Douala, and saw the condition of Amusan. I was at the airport when I heard the news.
“From the airport, I rushed down to the athletes’ hotel to see her. Then, she was really down, and I prayed to God to come to our rescue because the children are under my custody. I am happy God answered our prayer.
“I was so excited seeing Tobi fly on the track to give us gold. This can only come from an athlete, who is dedicated and loyal to her country. I salute her courage and sense of humour.”
It will be recalled that Amusan arrived in Douala last Thursday morning with other members of the Nigerian contingent with no sign of illness. But she fell ill in the night, and Sports Ministry’s medical personnel attached to the AFN team to Douala advised her to take a rest.
She took part in the 4x100m relay final because AFN Technical Director, Samuel Onikeku, tendered a medical report on her, unlike the duo of Favour Ofili and Rosemary Chukwuma, who pulled out from the 100m semifinal without the knowledge of the technical committee.
Meanwhile, newly crowned African women’s long jump queen, Ese Brume of Nigeria, has revealed that her journey to winning the gold medal at the 23rd African Senior Athletics championships was tougher than she expected.
Reveling in her ability to conquer the packed competition, Brume told The Guardian that the opposition pushed her to jump to her gold medal-winning 6.73m mark.
The achievement in Douala gave Brume her fourth African Senior Championships title. With personal best jump of 7.17m, Brume is also a two-time medalist at the World Athletics Championships, an Olympics bronze medalist and a five-time African junior champion in long jump.
Following her success in Cameroon, Brume said she is now prepared to join Team Nigeria’s Olympics camp in Germany alongside her coach, Yahaya Kayode.
“I will continue to work with my coach to ensure I make a better performance at the Olympic Games,” she added.
![[FILE] Nigerian athletes during a track event. The AIU is demanding answers from the AFN over age discrepancies in four Nigerian athletes set to compete in the World U20 Championships.](http://cdn.guardian.ng/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Nigeria-Relay-Team-1024x570-1.jpg)
