Nigerian world record holder, Tobi Amusan, will begin her quest for a third African women’s 100m hurdles title at the 2026 African Senior Athletics Championships in Accra, Ghana.
The championship opens today at the University of Ghana, with Amusan entering the competition as one of the favourites after an impressive record at the continental event.
The world record holder has won five gold medals at previous editions of the championships, claiming both the 100m hurdles and 4x100m relay titles at Asaba 2018 and Mauritius 2022, before adding another relay gold medal at Douala 2024.
Although she was expected to defend her hurdles title in Douala, the Nigerian athlete only featured in the relay event for personal reasons.
Liberia’s Ebony Morrison currently holds the women’s 100m hurdles title after winning gold at the last edition ahead of South Africa’s Marione Fourie and Madagascar’s Sidonie Fiadanantsoa.
Amusan is, however, widely tipped to reclaim the crown, with fellow Nigerians Adaobi Tabugbo and Janet Sunday also set to compete in the event.
Tabugbo heads into the championships in strong form after posting a personal best of 12.87 seconds. She also competed in the previous edition in Douala, where she finished fifth in the hurdles and won relay gold alongside Amusan.
Sunday will be making her senior international championship debut. The young hurdler’s personal best stands at 13.67 seconds, set earlier this year at the AFN Golden League in Benin.
The women’s 100m hurdles heats are scheduled for this evening, while the final will take place tomorrow.
After the African Championships, Amusan is also expected to begin her 2026 Diamond League campaign in Shanghai later this week, where she will face a strong field that includes reigning world champion Ditaji Kambundji, Olympic champion Masai Russell, Jamaica’s Danielle Williams and Bahamian hurdler Devynne Charlton.
