🇳🇬 BREAKING NEWS: Team Nigeria Dazzles at the 15th Open African Masters Athletics Championships in Tunisia!






Team Nigeria has delivered one of its most memorable international performances at the 15th Open African Masters Athletics Championships in Tunisia, which concluded yesterday, November 25th, 2025. With a small but mighty delegation of just nine athletes, Nigeria finished a remarkable second overall, trailing only the host nation, Tunisia, in a competition that featured 23 African countries and nine non-scoring nations including Spain, Germany, France, Japan, Barbados, and Russia.


Their collective brilliance produced an astounding medal haul of 18 Gold, 5 Silver, and 2 Bronze medals, marking a historic moment for Masters athletics in Nigeria, especially as the nation had been conspicuously absent from international Masters competition since 2019, until this triumphant return in 2025.


The championship was filled with inspiring displays of versatility and excellence. Nigeria’s dominance began in the field events, where Christian Aiyegbeni (M45) delivered a breathtaking all-round performance. He swept the throws with gold medals in the discus, hammer, and shot put, and even added gold in the pole vault, an extraordinary showcase of athletic range, while securing silver in the javelin to complete a stunning five-medal performance.


In the women’s division, Dr. Safiya Yahaya-Kongoila (W45) emerged as one of the most versatile athletes of the entire championship. She claimed gold in the discus and hammer, added silver in the 200m and triple jump, and earned bronze in the long jump. Her blend of power, speed, and technique elevated Nigeria’s presence across multiple event categories.


Nigeria also sparkled on the track. Irene Anetor (W50) swept her events with commanding brilliance, clinching gold in the 100m, 200m, and 800m, a triple crown that positioned her among the standout athletes of Tunisia 2025. Her dominance was mirrored by Adeyoju Adebusuyi (M45), who stormed to gold in both the 400m and 800m and added a silver in the 200m.


In the sprints, Folake Okache (W45) lit up the track with gold medals in the 100m and 80m hurdles, while Ubong Usoro (M50) showcased explosive speed to secure double gold in the 100m and 200m. The women’s camp also celebrated Mariam Adedun (W45), who took gold in the 200m and bronze in the shot put. Nigeria’s field strength continued with Michael Ofili (M45) grabbing gold in the javelin and Dele Ige (M45) securing silver in the triple jump.


One of the most emotional highlights came in the women’s 4x100m relay. The quartet of Mariam Adedun, Irene Anetor, Dr. Safiya Yahaya-Kongoila, and Folake Okache combined seamlessly to deliver a flawless race and win gold, reinforcing Nigeria’s strength and unity in team events.


Reacting to the team’s exceptional achievement, Dr. Safiya Yahaya-Kongoila, Secretary-General of the Nigeria Athletics Masters and Team Manager for Tunisia 2025, expressed heartfelt gratitude and pride. She described the outing as a defining moment for Nigeria’s Masters Athletics movement.


She remarked:


“With gratitude to God, I wish to express my heartfelt appreciation to the Nigeria Athletics Masters for the confidence reposed in me to coordinate the trip to Tunisia for the 15th Open African Athletics Masters Championships, where we recorded a breakthrough and won an unprecedented 18 Gold, 5 Silver, and 2 Bronze medals.


I appreciate the cooperation from every member of this 9-man contingent who joined me in taking the extraordinary leap of faith to make this dream a reality against all odds. I also appreciate your resilience during the tough times.


I am grateful to the President, Dr. Richard Ogunleye, and others who gave the team moral support. It has been a truly amazing, unforgettable experience. 


Masters Athletics is an age-group category of track and field events for ex-internationals and retired athletes. The Nigeria Athletics Masters Association (NAM) is proudly affiliated with the African Masters Athletics Association (AFMA) and the World Masters Athletics (WMA).


"Presently, Masters Athletics in Nigeria receives no sponsorship from the Nigerian government, but we remain hopeful that this recent success, achieved by these dedicated ambassadors who made Nigeria proud in Tunisia, will inspire long-awaited government support. With the 2026 World Masters Athletics Championships in Daegu, Korea approaching, we earnestly call on the Nigerian government and the corporate community to invest in Masters Athletics. Such support will not only sustain this momentum but also cement Nigeria’s position as a formidable force in international age-group athletics.”


Her words perfectly embody the spirit of sacrifice and unshakeable belief that propelled Team Nigeria to this historic feat.


Their performances reaffirm that mastery only deepens with age, and that the Nigerian spirit of excellence continues to shine brightly across Africa and beyond.

Congratulations to this amazing Team Nigeria. 🇳🇬🏆

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