African Games 2024: Nigeria's Itsekiri and Ekanem blaze to 100m final, set to face stiff challenge in Cameroon's Eseme

African Games 2024: Nigeria's Itsekiri and Ekanem blaze to 100m final, set to face stiff challenge in Cameroon's Eseme

Funmilayo Fameso 01:11 - 19.03.2024

Nigerian champion Usheoritse Itsekiri and Africa's current fastest this season Consider Ekanem, will battle Emmanuel Eseme for the African Games 100m title.

Nigeria's duo of Usheoritse Itsekiri and Consider Ekanem convincingly won their 100m semifinals to qualify for the 100m final, where they will face a stiff challenge in Cameroon's Emmanuel Eseme for the African Games title.

Itsekiri, making his second appearance at the African Games after winning a bronze medal in Rabat five years ago, started on a bright note with a 10.19s second place finish behind Eseme (10.15s), thus making known the brilliant form he's in and target of winning the gold medal.

Usheoritse Itsekiri

In his semifinal race, despite a series of false starts and delays, the Nigerian champion held his own and showed his experience with a composed race, good enough to see him win in 10.29s (-2.1) and make the final.

Ekanem, Nigeria's current fastest man this season, proved he is in Ghana for serious business with 10.46s in his heat race and lowered it to 10.37s for another victory in the semifinal.

Consider Ekanem

The Nigerian duo clocked the second and third-fastest overall times to qualify for the final, led by top favourite and world indoor finalist Eseme in 10.23s.

With the 100m final set to be a firecracker, Itsekiri will be gunning to win his first African title and second consecutive gold medal for Nigeria in the event, while Eseme's target will be on becoming Cameroon's first African Games 100m champion or medallist.

Emmanuel Eseme

However, both will be wary of Ekanem, who can stun them to an upset as his personal best of 10.10s is the fastest by an African sprinter this season.

Men's 100m finalists

  1. Emmanuel Eseme (CMR) - 10.23s
  2. Usheoritse Itsekiri (NGR) - 10.29s
  3. Consider Ekanem (NGR) - 10.37s
  4. Benjamin Azamati (GHA) - 10.41s
  5. Aggerh Barnabas (GHA) - 10.42s
  6. Camara Ebrahima (GAM) - 10.45s
  7. Gilbert Hainuca (NAM) - 10.46s
  8. Bibi Gary Noa Jereel (MAR) - 10.47s
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