by SAVIOUS KWINIKA
JOHANNESBURG, (CAJ News) – AFRICAN athletes are leaving a remarkable imprint on the ongoing World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan, with a growing number qualifying for finals across multiple disciplines.
Long celebrated for their dominance in middle- and long-distance running, African competitors are now proving formidable in sprints, field events, and technical races where the continent has historically struggled to gain recognition.
The latest rounds have confirmed Africa’s presence in nearly every marquee final, setting the stage for a dramatic weekend of competition.
On Friday, Africa’s sprinting hopes rest on Botswana’s prodigy Letsile Tebogo, South Africa’s Olympic champion Wayde van Niekerk, and Zimbabwe’s rising star Makanakaishe Charamba.
The trio will contest the men’s 200 metres final against Dominican Republic’s Alexander Ogando, Switzerland’s Timothé Mumenthaler, and Japan’s Towa Uzawa.
Tebogo, already a world under-20 record holder, has been tipped as Africa’s best hope to challenge traditional sprinting powerhouses from the Americas and Caribbean.
In the women’s 200 metres, Côte d’Ivoire’s Jessika Gbai carries the continent’s banner.
She will line up against an elite field including Jamaica’s Shericka Jackson, the reigning world champion, and Britain’s Amy Hunt.
Gbai’s qualification underscores the resurgence of West African sprinting, a tradition dating back to legends like Côte d’Ivoire’s Murielle Ahouré and Marie-Josée Ta Lou.
Saturday’s men’s 400 metres final will see Botswana dominate the lineup, with Lee Bhekempilo Eppie, Busang Collen Kebinaitshipi, and Bayapo Ndori all qualifying, joined by South Africa’s Zakithi Nene.
They face a tough challenge against international stars such as Trinidad & Tobago’s Jereem Richards and Jamaica’s Rusheen McDonald.
Meanwhile, Africa’s depth in middle-distance running continues to show. Kenya’s Nicholas Kiplangat Kebenei, Botswana’s Kethobogile Haingur, and Algeria’s Djamel Sedjati are through to the men’s 800 metres final.
Sedjati, who won silver at the 2022 World Championships, is viewed as a strong medal contender.
The women’s 5000 metres final will once again highlight East Africa’s enduring dominance.
Kenya’s Beatrice Chebet and Margaret Aakidor, Uganda’s Joy Cheptoyek, and Ethiopia’s duo Birke Haylom and Fantaye Belayneh will compete against strong opposition from the USA, Japan, and Europe. Chebet, the reigning World Cross Country champion, remains one of the favorites for gold.
Africa’s ambitions are not limited to the track. Senegal’s Saly Sarr has advanced to the women’s triple jump final, while Kenya’s Julius Yego—nicknamed the “YouTube Man” for teaching himself javelin technique online—returns to the men’s javelin final.
Yego, the 2015 world champion, is aiming for a comeback after years of injury setbacks.
The breadth of African participation in Tokyo reflects a growing diversification of talent.
Traditionally, the continent’s dominance has been anchored in long-distance running, but recent investments in sprint programs and field event training are bearing fruit.
Countries like Botswana, Côte d’Ivoire, and South Africa are nurturing athletes who now challenge the global order in speed and power disciplines.
As the finals approach, Africa’s athletes stand poised not only to collect medals but also to rewrite the narrative of the continent’s athletic identity—proving that African excellence is no longer confined to endurance, but extends across the full spectrum of world athletics.
— CAJ News