Nigeria ended its run at the first World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest, Hungary, with five athletes sharing $130,000 in prize money, highlighted by Tobi Amusan’s silver medal in the women’s 100m hurdles.
Nigeria’s Budapest results
- Amusan ran 12.34 seconds to place second in the hurdles final. American Masai Russell claimed gold in 12.22, while the Netherlands’ Nadine Visser was third in 12.39. Amusan’s runner-up finish brought her $75,000.
- Kanyinsola Ajayi finished fourth in the men’s 100m, missing the medals by a narrow margin but collecting $25,000.
- Ezekiel Nathaniel took sixth in the men’s 400m hurdles and earned $14,000.
- Udodi Onwuzurike placed eighth in the men’s 200m, receiving $10,000.
- Ella Onojuvwevwo completed Nigeria’s prize-money returns with 12th place in the women’s 400m, worth $6,000.
The three-day championship was staged at Budapest’s National Athletics Centre. It featured many of the sport’s leading competitors, who contested a record $10 million prize pool in a new head-to-head format created by World Athletics.
AFN encouraged by young squad
Chief Tonobok Okowa, president of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria, welcomed the team’s showing and pointed out that the youthful group reached finals in four of its five events.
“I am extremely proud of the athletes and their representation of Nigeria in Budapest,” Okowa said. “They displayed bravery, commitment and the appropriate competitive attitude, even with the difficulties surrounding the team’s participation.”
He added that the performances had increased his belief in Nigeria’s next generation and would contribute to planning for the 2027 World Athletics Championships in China, identified as the federation’s primary target.
“This is a young group, so reaching four finals from five entries is a very positive sign,” he said. “Tobi Amusan’s silver and Kanyinsola Ajayi’s close call in the 100m demonstrate that we have competitors who can perform at the sport’s highest level.”
Visa problems disrupted preparations
Okowa also revealed that Samuel Ogazi, regarded as one of Nigeria’s rising prospects and the fastest 400m runner in the world this year, was unavailable in Budapest because of a toe injury.
Nigeria’s participation was further complicated by visa difficulties. Okowa said the Local Organising Committee was late in forwarding visa-support letters to the Hungarian Embassy in Nigeria, while embassy officials adopted what he described as an inflexible stance towards the country’s athletes.
He said efforts by NSC Chairman Mallam Shehu Dikko, NOC President Engineer Habu Gumel and other senior figures in Nigerian sport failed to settle the dispute. As a result, Nigeria’s 100m mixed relay team could not obtain its visas before the deadline and missed the championship.
“Athletes should not face this level of strain while preparing to represent their country,” Okowa said. “The lesson is clear: visa arrangements, paperwork and logistics must all be completed considerably earlier.”
With the Budapest event concluded, Okowa said the federation regarded the results as part of a wider rebuilding programme. The objective is to reach the 2027 championships in China better prepared and capable of challenging for major medals.
