The 24th African Senior Athletics Championships in Accra, Ghana, became a powerful showcase of African women’s excellence in athletics, with female athletes delivering some of the competition’s most memorable performances.
Held at the University of Ghana Sports Stadium, the championship brought together elite athletes from across the continent, with women competing fiercely in sprinting, distance races, hurdles, relays, and field events. From record-breaking relay performances to historic gold medals, the women’s events highlighted the growing strength and depth of African athletics.
Tobi Amusan Leads Nigeria’s Charge
One of the biggest stars of the championships was Tobi Amusan, who once again proved why she remains one of Africa’s most dominant track athletes.
The Nigerian world-record holder stormed to gold in the women’s 100m hurdles, securing Nigeria’s first gold medal of the championship. Amusan entered the competition as the overwhelming favorite and successfully defended her continental dominance.
Nigeria’s women also dominated the relay events. In the women’s 4x100m relay, the Nigerian quartet captured gold in a championship-record time of 42.92 seconds, ahead of Liberia and host nation Ghana. The victory marked Nigeria’s fourth consecutive African title in the event.
The success continued in the women’s 4x400m relay, where Team Nigeria secured another gold medal on the final day of competition, further cementing the country’s strength in women’s sprinting.
Rwanda Celebrates Historic Gold
One of the most emotional moments of the championships came in the women’s 5000m final, where Emeline Imanizabayo delivered a surprise victory for Rwanda.
Imanizabayo unleashed a powerful finishing sprint to defeat athletes from Djibouti and Ethiopia, winning Rwanda’s first-ever gold medal in the history of the African Athletics Championships.
Her victory became one of the standout stories of the tournament and symbolized the emergence of new athletic powers within African women’s distance running.
Kenya Dominates Distance Running
Kenya’s women once again proved dominant in long-distance events.
Diana Wanza claimed gold in the women’s 10,000m after producing a commanding solo run in the closing laps. She crossed the finish line in a personal best time of 31:33.26.
Kenya also swept the top positions in the women’s 3000m steeplechase, with Diana Chepkwoi winning gold while Mercy Chepngeno secured silver.
The performances helped Kenya finish second overall on the medal table with an impressive haul of medals from women’s events.
Ghana’s Women Deliver Home Pride
Host nation Ghana also celebrated several strong performances from its female athletes.
Florence Agyemang earned Ghana’s first medal of the championships after winning bronze in the women’s 400m.
Ghana’s women’s 4x100m relay team later added another bronze medal, delighting home supporters inside the packed stadium in Accra.
Although Ghana finished without a gold medal, the performances from the women’s team showed encouraging progress for athletics in the country.
Cameroon and South Africa Shine in Field Events
In the women’s discus throw, Cameroon’s Nora Atim Monie won gold with a throw of 57.00m, earning Cameroon its first women’s discus title at the African Championships.
South Africa also enjoyed a strong championship overall, topping the final medal standings with nine gold medals. Their women athletes contributed heavily in both track and field disciplines.
More Than Medals
Beyond the medals, the women’s events in Accra represented the continued rise of African women in global athletics. The championship showcased athletes breaking records, inspiring younger generations, and proving that African women continue to compete at the highest international standards.
From Nigeria’s relay dominance to Rwanda’s historic breakthrough and Kenya’s distance-running excellence, the women of the 2026 African Senior Athletics Championships delivered performances that will be remembered long after the final race in Accra.
