Kanyinsola Ajayi made history in Tokyo on Sunday, running 9.93 seconds in his 100m semifinal to qualify for the final and become the first Nigerian man since Olusoji Fasuba in 2007 to reach the World Championships 100m final.
Ajayi’s blistering 9.93s performance secured him second place in his semifinal heat, earning an automatic spot in the highly anticipated final. His achievement ends an 18-year wait for Nigeria to be represented in the men’s 100m final on the global stage.
The last Nigerian sprinter to achieve the feat was Olusoji Fasuba, who reached the final at the 2007 World Championships in Osaka. Ajayi’s breakthrough comes at a time when Nigerian athletics has been eager to re-establish its dominance in the sprints.
Track fans and fellow athletes have celebrated the milestone, hailing Ajayi’s performance as a defining moment for Nigerian track and field. His presence in the final has sparked excitement nationwide, with hopes high that he could push for a podium finish against the world’s fastest men.
