Former World U-20 champion, United States-based speedstar, Udodi Onwuzurike, is set to make history in the 2025 Wanda Diamond League Final, which will be held on August 27 and 28 at the iconic Letzigrund Stadium in Zurich, Switzerland.
While many athletics lovers across the globe are looking forward to seeing the face-off between Onwuzurike and Olympic gold medallist, America’s Noah Lyles, it won’t be the same for sprint queen, Favour Ofili, who has reportedly withdrawn from the women’s 200m race, despite qualifying as one of the top eight contenders.
Onwuzurike, who came to the limelight in 2021 when he won the 200m gold medal for Nigeria at the World U-20 championship in Nairobi, Kenya, made the Diamond League final despite competing in just one event this season in Brussels. He secured the spot in the final due to a wave of withdrawals by some athletes.
His face-off with Lyles, who joined the fray through a wildcard, adds a thrilling layer of unpredictability to the men’s sprint event in Zurich.
Speaking with The Guardian from his base in the United States yesterday, his father, Coach Chris Onwuzurike, said he is pleased with the sprinter’s determination to make big headlines on track and on the field.
My son, Udodi, has passed through a lot in the last two years, and I am happy he made the Diamond League final at last. I may be in Zurich to cheer him to victory on Wednesday,” the father stated.
Ofili, a finalist at the Paris 2024 Olympics, was poised to make her Diamond League Final debut, but her name is conspicuously missing from the final entry list. The reason for her withdrawal remains a mystery, leaving fans and analysts alike in disbelief.
While Ofili has stepped aside, Nigeria’s golden girl, Tobi Amusan, is back with fire in her eyes.
Amusan, who missed last year’s final, is set to compete in her fourth Diamond League final. With three titles already under her belt, Amusan is gunning for a historic fourth win in the 100m hurdles and the coveted $50,000 top prize.
Her return has not only electrified the field but also reignited hopes of another record-breaking performance.
In another dramatic twist, Nigeria’s 400m hurdler, Nathaniel Ezekiel, has been catapulted into the final following the withdrawal of top-ranked athletes Benjamin Rai (USA) and Alison dos Santos (Brazil).
Ezekiel, who finished ninth in the standings, now finds himself in the elite lineup of the Diamond League discipline. With $50,000 on the line for the winner, and $20,000 and $10,000 for second and third, respectively, the stakes couldn’t be higher for the young Nigerian.
However, Nigerian shot putter Chukwuebuka Enekwechi, who placed seventh in the standings, will not be competing in Zurich.
All six qualified athletes have confirmed their participation, leaving no room for alternates. It is a bitter pill for Enekwechi, who has consistently delivered strong performances throughout the season.
