The curtain has fallen on the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, and for Nigeria, the campaign ended with pride, heartbreak, and renewed hope. Against stiff global competition, the country secured 27th place on the medal table; thanks to a lone silver medal by Tobi Amusan in the women’s 100m hurdles.
Amusan, Nigeria’s most dependable hurdler, delivered once again. Despite the fierce field and a high-stakes race, she crossed the line in 12.29 seconds, settling for silver behind Switzerland’s Ditaji Kambundji, who set a new national record with 12.24s. The medal ended Nigeria’s medal drought on the world stage and added another chapter to Amusan’s storied career.
Equally compelling was the near-miss in the men’s 400m hurdles, where Ezekiel Nathaniel ran a blazing 47.11 seconds, breaking his national record. He initially appeared to be promoted to a bronze finish after the disqualification of Rai Benjamin, only for the decision to be reversed later.
Additional bright moments sprinkled the competition: Kanyinsola Ajayi made history by becoming the first Nigerian male sprinter in 18 years to reach a 100m final, finishing 6th after impressive runs of 9.88s and 9.93s earlier in the rounds. Meanwhile, Udodi Onwuzurike progressed to the men’s 200m semi-finals, and in the field, Chukwuebuka Enekwechi placed 5th in long jump.
But beyond these standout performances lay a tougher reality: several of Nigeria’s athletes bowed out in early rounds. In events like women’s discus, hammer throw, and preliminary long jump rounds, the hopes were dashed by stiff competition and narrow margins.
Nigeria’s 27th place finish came in joint position with 12 other nations, including Algeria, Greece, Morocco, and Poland; all sharing the single silver medal tally. To put things in perspective, 53 countries made it onto the medal table, breaking past records of previous editions. The full table was topped by the United States, who bagged 16 golds and 26 medals in total.
Despite the modest haul, the showings of Amusan, Nathaniel, Ajayi, and others hint at a deeper potential within Nigeria’s athletics program. With better support, infrastructure, and consistency, the nation might aim even higher next time.
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