Five Team Nigeria Starlets to Watch at the African Junior Athletics Championships

In just 20 days, the city of Abeokuta, Ogun State, will host Africa’s most promising young athletes for the 3rd African U18/U20 Athletics Championships, scheduled for July 16–20. With continental glory and career-defining moments on the line, Team Nigeria’s rising stars are ready to make their mark.

For the home nation, the championship is more than just a competition — it’s a launchpad for greatness. Over the years, the event has served as a stepping stone for future Olympic and World Championship medalists, and this year’s edition promises another wave of breakout performances.

Among Nigeria’s contingent, five standout athletes have already begun carving their names into the future of athletics. These are the five Team Nigeria starlets to watch as the championship draws near:

1. Chioma Nwachukwu – The Relentless Quarter-Miler

• Events: 400m, 4x400m Relay

• PBs: 400m – 51.26s | Indoor – 52.07s | 4x400m Relay – 3:26.90

• College: University of Iowa

Chioma has the poise of a veteran and the hunger of a rising star. A gold medalist at the 2022 National Sports Festival, she shattered collegiate records at the University of Iowa and was named Big Ten Freshman of the Year. With her blistering 400m speed and proven relay strength, she’s expected to anchor Team Nigeria’s charge in the women’s sprints.

2. Okon Israel – The Sprint Sensation

• Events: 60m, 100m, 200m, 4x100m Relay

• PBs: 100m – 9.91s | 60m – 6.51s | 200m – 20.80s

• College: Auburn University

At just 19, Okon has sprinted into the spotlight. He tied the Auburn University 60m record, clinched silver at the SEC Indoors, and earned bronze at the NCAA Indoor Championships. His U20 national record of 9.91s in the 100m places him among Nigeria’s fastest-ever teenagers. With relay gold from the 2023 African Games already in the bag, Okon arrives in Abeokuta as one of Nigeria’s top medal hopes.

3. Favour Onyah – The Quarter-Mile Queen in the Making

• Events: 400m, 200m, 4x400m Relay

• PBs: 400m – 51.93s | 200m – 24.35s | 4x400m Relay – 3:40.46

• College: Southeastern Louisiana University

Favour’s breakout season continues. The reigning Southland Conference Freshman of the Year, she reached the NCAA East First Round in the 400m and helped rewrite her school’s indoor relay record. With a bronze medal from the 2023 Nigerian Trials and a relay gold from MTN CHAMPS Asaba, she’s already a seasoned competitor at just 18.

4. Gafari Badmus – The Versatile Powerhouse

• Events: 400m, 200m, 800m, 4x400m Relay

• PBs: 400m – 45.62s | 200m – 21.64s | 800m – 1:56.48 | Mixed Relay – 3:25.59

• College: Not currently enrolled

Gafari is the kind of athlete coaches dream about — explosive, adaptable, and fearless. A gold medalist in the men’s 4x400m at the 2024 National Sports Festival, his ability to compete across distances makes him a threat in both individual events and relays. Expect him to be one of Nigeria’s busiest and most impactful performers in Abeokuta.

5. John Caleb – The Sprint Technician

• Events: 100m, 200m, 4x100m Relay

• PBs: 100m – 10.39s | 200m – 21.19s | 4x100m – 40.28s

• College: Not currently enrolled

John Caleb is no stranger to pressure. A two-time winner at MTN CHAMPS Benin and Lagos, he rose through the ranks with dominant performances at the U18 Trials. His explosive starts and smooth transition on the bend make him a relay weapon and a medal contender in the sprints.

As the African Junior Championships near, all eyes will be on these five athletes — and many others — to carry the legacy of Nigerian sprinting into the next generation.

From Abeokuta to the world, Team Nigeria is ready.