Nigerian sprinter Deji Aliu smashed the 10-second barrier to win the men’s 100m at the All-Africa Games in a sparkling time of 9,95 seconds in Abuja, Nigeria, on Sunday.
Aliu’s new Games record was enough to hold off his Nigerian teammate Uchenna Emedolu, who took silver in 9,97, while reigning champion Leonard Myles-Mills of Ghana got the bronze in 10,03.
Aliu, who only finished seventh in the World Championships in Paris in August, shed tears of joy as he was embraced by elated Nigerian officials.
But he hit out at officials within the Nigerian athletics federation, who he blamed for souring the atmosphere in the team camp in Paris where some athletes boycotted their relay event in protest over the management of the sport in the country.
”My tears have to do with the trauma I have been going through with the officials of the federation. They have accused me of being a bad influence on the other athletes, a bad boy,” said an emotional Aliu.
”But I’m a Nigerian and I will remain a Nigerian. And nobody will drive me out of my country”, he insisted.
Mary Omagbemi won the women’s 100m title to make it a Nigerian sprint double as Endurance Ojokolo ran the same time of 11,26sec, but the computer gave a slight edge to Omagbemi.
”We feel great to have done our country proud,” said Omagbemi.
Ghana’s Vida Anim came third to pick the bronze.
Former All-Africa Games champion Mercy Nku of Nigeria did not participate in the Games because she failed to report to the Nigerian camp on time.
There was some bad news for the host nation on Sunday, however, as reigning champion William Erese of Nigeria was disqualified from the men’s 110m hurdles after jumping the gun twice, allowing Berlioz Joseph Randriamihaja of Madagascar to win gold.
Randriamihaja returned 13,77, followed by Todd Jouda Mathews of Sudan with 13,81 for silver.
The bronze medal was won by Frikkie van Zyl of South Africa in the same time as second.
Top Nigerian official Tony Nezianya said Erese had learned a valuable lesson.
”He was our medal hopeful in this event,” Nezianya said. ”I think he will be more cautious in the future not to break the rules.”
The medals in the men’s 20km walk went to North Africa.
Hatem Ghoula of Tunisia won in 1 hour, 30 minutes and 32 seconds, Algeria’s Moussa Aouanouk was just four seconds behind and his compatriot Rezki Yahi took the bronze medal in 1:35,19. — Sapa-AFP