Enekwechi Withdraws As Amusan Targets Hurdles Crown At African Championships

Nigeria’s preparations for the 2026 African Senior Athletics Championships in Accra have suffered a setback after three-time African champion Chukwuebuka Enekwechi pulled out of the national team.

The shot put star will not defend his title when the competition begins later today, May 12, at the University of Ghana Sports Complex, where events will run from May 12 to 17.

Enekwechi’s withdrawal was confirmed on Monday, leaving Nigeria short of firepower in the throws.

The country is already without women’s African shot put record holder Jessica Oji, while decathlon national record holder Jami Schlueter has been ruled out due to visa issues.

Officials of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) were unreachable at the time of filing this report, according to Punch, leaving the reason for the 33-year-old’s absence unclear.

Enekwechi recently competed at the Simbine Classic in South Africa and holds a season’s best of 21.74m, set while finishing second at the Drake Relays on April 24.

He has dominated the African Championships since his debut in Asaba in 2018, winning the last three editions.

Last year, he became the first African to break the 22m barrier, throwing 22.10m to claim bronze at the 2025 Prefontaine Classic in Eugene and rewrite the continental record books.

Meanwhile, world record holder Tobi Amusan begins her quest for a third African 100m hurdles title in Accra.

The Nigerian arrives with five continental gold medals across individual and relay events.

She won the sprint hurdles and 4x100m relay titles in Asaba in 2018 and repeated the double in Mauritius in 2022 before adding another relay gold in Douala in 2024.

Liberia’s Ebony Morrison is the defending champion after setting a championship record of 12.7s. Nigeria’s Adaobi Tabugbo and Janet Sunday will also compete in the event.

The heats are scheduled for 5.30pm on Tuesday, with the final set for the following day.

Amusan is expected to head straight to Shanghai after the championships to open her Diamond League season in a stacked field featuring Ditaji Kambundji, Masai Russell, Danielle Williams and Devynne Charlton.