The signs have always been there that Cameroonian Emmanuel Eseme will clinch the gold medal of the men’s 100m of the 2023 African Games and he did not disappoint.
There were not start drama this time around and once the runners were off the blocks, the Cameroonian established himself, but was given a credible challenge by Itseoritse Itsekiri and also Consider Ekanem.
Emanuel finished at 10.14 seconds, while Itsekiri clocked 10.23 for the silver, Hainuca Gilbert took the silver at 10.29. Ekanem was fourth with 10.42.
In the women’s race Gina Bass of Gambia had a field day as Nigeria’s Olayinka Olajide who on paper was a candidate for the gold struggled to keep up with the pressure of entering the big stage for the first time.
Bass touch the finish line with an 11,36 seconds run to win the gold, while Liberia’s Alyse Maia Mccoy too the silver at 11.49 seconds, Olajide raced 11.55 a photo finish with Claudine Njarasoa of Madagascar. Justina Tiana Eyakpobeyan was fifth with a time of 11.60 seconds.
The Nigerians must now focus on the 4x100m relays where they can gather speed and make up for missing the top prize.
Meanwhile in the 400m semi-final Chidi Okezie and Esther Elo Joseph offered hope that Nigeria can win gold in the flat with their heartwarming performances. Okezie ran 45. 63seconds the third fastest time. The fastest time belong to Muzala Samukonga of Zambia had 45. 51 in the third heat which also saw Dubem Nwachukwu running 45.89. Senegal’s Tidiani Diouf ran 45. 59 in the second heat.
Elo Joseph ran 51.74 seconds, she has Kenya’s Mary Morra to contend with in the final, she won her semi-final heat with 51.55 seconds
