Chigozie Rosemary Nwankwo led Nigeria’s medal charge at the 4th African Youth Games in Luanda, Angola, winning gold in the girls’ 100 metres on Saturday, www.aclsports.com reports.
Taking place between December 10 and 20, the Games also serve as a qualifier for the Youth Olympic Games Dakar 2026. Angola makes history as the first Portuguese-speaking host, welcoming athletes aged 14 to 17 from 54 nations to compete in 33 sports across six cities, including Luanda, Benguela and Bengo.
Nwankwo stormed to victory in 11.77 seconds, finishing ahead of South Africa’s Oluchi Ndubueze in second and Morocco’s Maria Saadi in third.
In the boys’ 100 metres, South Africa’s Micah Africa took gold, while Nigeria’s Emmanuel Akolo secured silver, narrowly ahead of Namibia’s Mouton Miheshco.
Nigeria’s success continued in the 200 metres, where Tejiri Ugoh claimed gold in the girls’ event, finishing well ahead of South Africa’s Isabella Gunter and Gambia’s Njie Adama. In the boys’ race, Perfect Faye earned silver behind South Africa’s Jayden Fourie.
Further honours came in the 400 metres, as Hafsoh Majekodunmi dominated the girls’ final to take gold, with Ethiopia’s Desta Kurni and Congo’s Maguerita Athouaby completing the podium. In the boys’ event, South Africa’s Fairlie Jaydon emerged victorious, with Nigeria’s David Udoh in silver and Ghana’s Agyaemang Evans taking bronze.
In the field events, Godswill Anelechi Nkemakolam added to Nigeria’s tally with silver in the boys’ long jump. South Africa’s Jayden Fourie soared to victory for his second gold of the Games, while Algeria’s Leith Bencharef claimed bronze.
Nigeria is represented by a strong squad of 19 athletes in track and field, including 10 girls and 9 boys, signalling more medal hopes and thrilling performances still to come.
