Nigeria’s sprint medal hope Favour Ashe suffered a devastating setback at the 2026 African Athletics Championships (ASAC) in Ghana after being disqualified for a false start in the men’s 100m heats.
Ashe, who competed in heat 2, had already completed the race before officials confirmed his disqualification. Reports indicate that both Ashe and a Cameroonian athlete failed to react to the recall signal from the officials and were subsequently removed from the race after returning to the starting line.
The incident ends what was expected to be a strong medal challenge for the Nigerian sprinter in one of the championship’s marquee events.
Mixed fortunes for Nigeria in sprint events
While Ashe’s campaign ended in disappointment, other Nigerian athletes produced encouraging performances on the track.
Miracle Ezechukwu booked her place in the 100m semifinals after comfortably winning her heat, showing strong control and qualification intent.
Tejiri Ugoh also progressed, finishing third in her heat behind Cameroon’s Heverge Etame, who took the win.
In the women’s 100m, Rosemary Chukwuma delivered a composed performance, easing through her heat in 11.44 seconds, jogging across the finish line to secure qualification with minimal pressure.
A painful moment, but positives for Team Nigeria
Ashe’s disqualification is a major blow for Nigeria’s medal ambitions in the men’s sprint, but the strong showings from the women’s contingent ensure the country remains firmly in contention as the championships progress in Ghana.
