Sports

Five Nigerian Starlets to Watch at African Junior Athletics Championships

Published

4 months ago

June 27, 2025

Joel Ajayi

With just 20 days remain before Africa’s next generation of track and field stars converge for the 3rd African U18/U20 Athletics Championships, from July 16-20 in Abeokuta, Ogun State.

For Team Nigeria, it’s more than a championship — it’s a launchpad.

A golden opportunity for rising stars to announce themselves on the continental stage and ignite careers that could shape the future of Nigerian athletics.

Among the contingent gearing up to wear the green-white-green with pride, a standout group of talents is already turning heads both locally and internationally. Meet the names to watch as they prepare to dazzle in Abeokuta:

Chioma Nwachukwu: Events: 400m, 4x400m Relay, PBs: 400m – 51.26s | Indoor – 52.07s | 4x400m Relay – 3:26.90, College: University of Iowa.

A gold medalist at the 2022 National Sports Festival and a champion at the Nigerian University Games (NUGA), Chioma has shattered school records at the University of Iowa in both the indoor and outdoor 4x400m relays.

Okon Israel: Events: 60m, 100m, 200m, 4x100m Relay, PBs: 100m – 9.91s | 60m – 6.51s | 200m – 20.80s, College: Auburn University.

Okon is rewriting history. His blistering 6.51s in the 60m tied the school record at Auburn, placing him alongside legends like Davidson Ezinwa and Favour Ashe on Nigeria’s all-time list.

A silver medalist at the SEC Indoor Championships and bronze medalist at the NCAA Indoors, he also led Nigeria to gold in the 4x100m at the 2023 African Games.

Favour Onyah: Events: 400m, 200m, 4x400m Relay, PBs: 400m – 51.93s | 200m – 24.35s | 4x400m Relay – 3:40.46, College: Southeastern Louisiana University

Named the 2024 Southland Conference Women’s Track & Field Freshman of the Year, Favour is fast becoming a dominant force in the quarter-mile.
Gafari Badmus: Events: 400m, 200m, 800m, 4x400m Relay: PBs: 400m – 45.62s | 200m – 21.64s | 800m – 1:56.48 | Mixed Relay – 3:25.59, College: Not currently enrolled.

Gafari is one of the brightest prospects in Nigeria’s youth athletics system. Already a gold medalist in the men’s 4x400m relay at the 2024 National Sports Festival, he has medaled across multiple distances and showcased versatility with a promising 800m personal best.

John Caleb: Events: 100m, 200m, 4x100m Relay, PBs: 100m – 10.39s | 200m – 21.19s | 4x100m – 40.28s, College: Not currently enrolled.

A two-time champion at MTN CHAMPS Benin and Lagos, John Caleb is the definition of consistency. He impressed at the U18 Athletics

Trials and has proven to be one of the country’s fastest teenagers.

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Sports

From Streets to Stardom: Unique Futbol Academy Scouting Program Inspires Ibadan’s Young Footballers

Published

9 hours ago

November 4, 2025

The Gleamer

Ibadan is buzzing with excitement as the Unique Football Academy Scouting Program kicks off, bringing together top European football clubs and talented young Nigerian players.

The four-day program, which commenced on Monday, features a delegation of four directors from prominent European teams, including two from Kosovo and one from India, led by renowned football agent Diego Martins from Portugal.

The scouting program aims to identify and select outstanding players who will be given opportunities to showcase their skills in Europe.

Successful players will be offered the chance to take their careers to the next level, with the organizers assuring them of opportunities abroad.

According to the Director of the program and founder of Unique Football Academy, Mr. Jelil Oladimeji, this is not the first time the academy has organized such an event.

“This is the 4th edition, and we are proud of the progress and impact we have made so far in terms of exposing our raw talent to the European market,” he said.

The program has already proven successful, with several players from previous editions going on to excel in European leagues. Some notable examples include Haruna Saleh with PAOK in Greece and Praisegod Emersons in Slovakia.

As the program continues, clubs are gearing up to exhibit their talents, and the future looks bright for Nigeria’s young football stars.

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