Zimbabwe's 4x400m team celebrates victory at the African Championships in Accra (© Monirul Bhuiyan)
The African Championships in Accra concluded on Sunday (17) and one of the biggest upsets of the final day came in the men’s 4x400m, where Zimbabwe overcame the wet conditions to storm to their first-ever title in the event.
The team of Dennis Hove, Leeford Zuze, Gerren Muwishi and Thandazani Ndlovu clocked 3:01.11 to beat Kenya (3:01.34), while Morocco claimed a surprise bronze (3:01.35). World champions Botswana had to settle for fourth in 3:02.38.
The win follows Zimbabwe's performance at the World Athletics Relays in Gaborone earlier this month, where they made the men's 4x400m final and qualified for the World Athletics Championships Beijing 27.
In the women’s 4x400m, Nigeria matched their dominance in the 4x100m by claiming a fourth consecutive African title. Veteran Patience Okon-George anchored the youthful quartet to victory in 3:29.30, finishing ahead of Ethiopia (3:33.43) and Kenya (3:33.79), with the latter narrowly denying hosts Ghana a podium finish.
Kenya’s 2015 world champion Julius Yego further cemented his legacy in the javelin, claiming his sixth African title – and fourth in succession. The Rio 2016 Olympic silver medallist equalled his season’s best of 79.87m in the second round, which proved enough for gold. Ethiopia’s Otag Ubang claimed a surprise silver with a national record of 77.60m, while South Africa’s Douw Smit took bronze with 76.00m.
World indoor bronze medallist and defending champion Saly Sarr of Senegal once again proved her class in the triple jump. Her second-round leap of 14.79m secured gold, while Mauritius’ Liliane Potiron and South Africa’s Zinzi Xulu completed the podium.
Ivory Coast continued their impressive outing in the 200m, beginning with Maboundou Koné, who upgraded her silver medal from Douala in 2024 to gold in Accra. She stopped the clock at 23.58 in a tightly contested race, edging Nigeria’s Rosemary Chukwuma and Liberia’s Symone Darius, who both clocked 23.59 for silver and bronze, respectively.
In the men’s race, Cheickna Traore followed in Koné’s footsteps, powering to victory in 20.31. Botswana’s Selepe Phaezel claimed silver in 20.42, while South Africa’s Mihlali Xhotyeni completed the podium in 20.56.
The 1500m races saw South Africa upset their East African rivals to secure historic gold medals in both the men’s and women’s events. In the women’s race, South African champion Karabo More rose above the heavy downpour to claim victory in 4:15.4, narrowly ahead of Kenya’s Vivian Chebet Kiprotich (4:15.5). Morocco’s Souad El Haddad took bronze in 4:16.0.
World indoor finalist Luan Munnik led a South African 1-2 in the men’s race, defeating defending champion Brian Komen of Kenya. Munnik crossed the line in 3:42.19 ahead of world finalist Tshepo Tshite, who took silver in 3:42.31. Komen settled for bronze in 3:43.19.
Eritrea’s Dawit Seare produced a stunning late charge to capture gold in the men’s 5000m, overtaking Ethiopia’s Mubin Haji on the home straight to win in 13:16.92. Haji claimed silver in 13:18.33, while Kenya’s Laban Kiptoo Kosgei secured bronze in 13:18.71.
South Africa’s Rogail Joseph successfully defended her women’s 400m hurdles title, clocking a season’s best of 54.73. Ivory Coast’s national record-holder Dinedye Denis finished second in 55.15, while Cameroon’s Linda Amelle Angounou repeated her bronze medal finish from Douala with 56.23.
Kenya dominated the women’s 3000m steeplechase as Diana Chepkemoi and Mercy Chepngeno broke away from the field early and never looked back, securing gold and silver in 9:29.18 and 9:30.46, respectively. Ethiopia’s Almaz Bude (9:33.45) and Wosane Asefa (9:41.75) followed in third and fourth places.
In the men’s high jump, Algeria’s 18-year-old Younes Ayachi emerged victorious after being the last man standing at 2.18m before clearing 2.22m. South Africa’s 17-year-old Mateo Le Roux took silver with 2.16m, while Kenya’s Kiprop Asbel Kemboi, the 2024 silver medallist, settled for bronze with 2.13m.
Yemi Galadima for World Athletics
