While football holds the world’s attention, Nigerian athletics is quietly gearing up for one of the biggest competitions of the year.
Tobi Amusan and Ese Brume will headline Nigeria’s contingent at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, confirmed by reports from Punch and The Sun this week. The two women represent Nigeria’s best realistic medal hopes at the global meet and their inclusion gives the squad both experience and the ability to compete for the podium.
Amusan’s Case for Gold
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Tobi Amusan enters the championships in strong form. Her recent meet record at the New Taipei Athletics Open earlier this month demonstrated the sharpness she has maintained throughout 2026. In the 100 metre hurdles, she is regarded as one of the top three contenders for global gold. Consequently, her performance in Tokyo will be one of the most watched Nigerian moments of the athletics calendar.
She is also no stranger to the pressure that comes with the global stage. Her near world record performance in Eugene in 2022 placed her permanently in the conversation about the best hurdlers in history. That experience is now an asset.
Brume’s Long Jump Ambitions
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Ese Brume brings a different kind of confidence to Tokyo. The long jump specialist has been one of Africa’s most consistent performers in the field events for the better part of a decade. Furthermore, her ability to peak at major championships — rather than just at low key meets — makes her a genuine threat for a podium finish.
The Athletics Federation of Nigeria has also raised an alarm this week, warning athletes over their conduct ahead of Commonwealth Games trials. That reminder reflects a federation that is trying to manage not just performance but professionalism across the board.
A Proud Nigerian Athletics Tradition
Nigeria has a long and distinguished history in sprinting and field events at the global level. From the relay teams of the 1990s to the current generation of individual champions, the country has always produced athletes who compete at the highest level.
Tokyo is the next chapter of that story. Amusan and Brume are the ones being asked to write it.
