World record holder Tobi Amusan is gradually hitting top form at the right time, with the Nigerian sprint hurdles star showing clear improvement in every race as she builds towards the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, in July.
After an inconsistent start to the season, Amusan has responded strongly across recent competitions, underlining her growing confidence, sharpness and race fitness.
She opened her latest run with 12.83 seconds at the CAA Senior Athletics Championships, a performance that suggested she was still working her way into full competitive rhythm. However, she quickly raised her level on the Diamond League circuit, clocking 12.41 seconds in Shanghai before improving further to a season’s best of 12.28 seconds in Xiamen.
The 2nd Vice President of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria, Akuchukwu Chineze Aghazu, praised Amusan’s progress, describing her steady improvement as a strong sign ahead of a busy international season.
Tobi Amusan is a very consistent athlete, and consistency is very important at the highest level. She has shown over time that she knows how to rise when it matters,” Aghazu said.
According to her, Amusan’s performances show that the world record holder is gradually returning to peak condition.
Each race has shown a more composed, sharper and more explosive Amusan. With the Commonwealth Games getting closer, this is very encouraging for Nigerian athletics fans,” she added.
Aghazu also credited the National Sports Commission for supporting athletes through prompt grant payments, saying the backing has helped create a better environment for elite performances.
The athletes are doing their part on the track, and the Sports Commission is also playing its role. That support is helping athletes like Amusan and others focus on performance,” she said.
She expressed confidence that Amusan could still improve further before Glasgow, adding that the Nigerian star remains capable of lowering her own world record if conditions are right.
Meanwhile, Samuel Ogazi has continued his remarkable rise as one of Nigeria’s brightest young athletics prospects after a series of outstanding performances in the 2026 indoor and outdoor season in the United States.
The 20-year-old quarter-miler has shown exceptional consistency and maturity, producing several elite performances against top collegiate competition.
Ogazi opened his indoor campaign with a personal best of 44.85 seconds in the 400m before improving to 44.57 seconds at the NCAA Division I Indoor Track and Field Championships in Fayetteville, Arkansas. He also delivered a facility-record 44.72 seconds at the SEC Indoor Championships.
His biggest statement came outdoors at the Southeastern Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Auburn, Alabama, where he clocked a sensational 43.95 seconds in the men’s 400m on May 16.
The time broke Innocent Egbunike’s long-standing Nigerian national record of 44.17 seconds, set in 1987, and placed Ogazi among the fastest quarter-milers in the world this year.
Aghazu hailed Ogazi’s development, describing him as a major talent with the potential to achieve great things for Nigeria.
Ogazi is ready to write his name in gold. At the AFN, with the support of the National Sports Commission, we are committed to providing the platform and environment for athletes like him to excel,” she said.
She added that his rise is no longer just a promise, but a clear indication of a special talent emerging on the global stage.
At just 20, Samuel Ogazi’s rise is becoming impossible to ignore. The Federation and the NSC, under the leadership of Shehu Dikko and Honourable Bukola Olopade, will continue to support him in achieving his dream,” Aghazu concluded.
