While the world focuses on football, Tobi Amusan is quietly reminding everyone that Nigeria’s greatness extends beyond the pitch.
Super Eagles and Super Falcons get most of the attention. However, Tobi Amusan has been doing something remarkable on the athletics track this year. The Nigerian sprint hurdler won gold and set a new meet record in the 100m hurdles at the New Taipei Athletics Open — the latest performance in what is shaping up to be one of the best seasons of her career.
The Performance in New Taipei
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Amusan powered through the hurdles with the precision and explosiveness that has made her one of the most feared sprint hurdlers in the world. Her new meet record at New Taipei is the latest data point in a 2026 season that has seen her consistently challenge at the top of the world rankings.
Furthermore, she did not arrive at this meet alone. Favour Ofili, Rosemary Chukwuma, Ella Onojuvwevwo, and Ezekiel Nathaniel are also set to headline Nigeria’s entries at the USATF Lone Star Grand Prix — a strong indicator that Nigerian track and field talent is performing at the highest level across multiple events and athletes.
The Bigger Picture for Nigerian Athletics
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Nigerian athletics has often lived in the shadow of Nigerian football. However, the depth of talent being demonstrated by sprinters and hurdlers in 2026 suggests that change is coming. Amusan, in particular, has been a transformative figure — her near-world-record performance in Eugene in 2022 placed Nigeria on the global sprint map in a way it had never been before.
Meanwhile, the Athletics Federation of Nigeria has been pulling its weight on governance. The NSC’s recent inauguration of election petitions and appeals committees signals an effort to clean up federation elections and ensure that the management of Nigerian sport matches the quality of its athletes.
Nigeria’s Quiet Champions
As the World Cup dominates timelines today, spare a thought for Tobi Amusan — competing on a different continent, in a different sport, but representing Nigeria with the same pride. Her gold medal in New Taipei is a reminder that Nigerian excellence is not singular. It is everywhere.
