Ghana’s hopes of securing a medal in the men’s 100 metres at the 2026 African Senior Athletics Championships suffered heartbreak on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, after Abdul-Rasheed Saminu and Joseph Paul Amoah narrowly missed out on podium finishes at the University of Ghana Stadium.
In front of a packed home crowd in Legon, Cameroon’s Emmanuel Eseme powered to gold in a thrilling final, clocking 10.25 seconds to retain his dominance in Accra after also winning the African Games title at the same venue in 2024.
South Africa’s Bradley Nkoana secured silver while Nigeria’s Chidera Ezeakor claimed bronze in one of the most competitive races of the championship.
Much of the attention heading into the final had centred on Ghanaian duo Abdul-Rasheed Saminu and Joseph Paul Amoah, who had both impressed earlier in the day by winning their respective semi-final heats to book places in the final.
The atmosphere inside the stadium was electric as thousands of fans anticipated a historic moment for Team Ghana on home soil. However, despite strong performances, both athletes fell agonisingly short of the medals.
Joseph Paul Amoah finished fourth in 10.32 seconds, narrowly missing bronze in a dramatic photo-finish, while Abdul-Rasheed Saminu placed sixth with the same time in an extremely tight contest.
The final result was briefly delayed as officials reviewed the close finish before confirming the standings.
The disappointment was particularly significant for the host nation, as many had hoped the duo would deliver Ghana’s first major medal of the championship on home soil and end the country’s 16-year wait for a medal in the men’s 100 metres at the African Championships.
Despite missing out on the podium, both athletes are still expected to play key roles for Ghana in the men’s 200 metres and the 4x100m relay events later in the competition.
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Story by Erica Odeenyin Odoom | univers.ug.edu.gh
