Nigeria’s Ezekiel Nathaniel will line up today in the men’s 400m hurdles final at the 2025 World Athletics Championships, chasing a historic milestone as no Nigerian athlete has ever won a medal in the event.
Nathaniel Ezekiel, 21 now has a golden chance to change that narrative as he will be filing out in the final today at 1:15 pm Nigerian time.
The closest Nigeria came to glory in this discipline was nearly four decades ago.
In 1987, Henry Amike reached the final in Rome, finishing sixth.
Since then, the country has struggled to make a mark in the men’s 400m hurdles on the global stage.
After 38 years, Nathaniel has ended the long drought by returning Nigeria to the final.
His journey to this point has been remarkable. With a personal best of 47.31 seconds, a national record.
Nathaniel has consistently shown he belongs among the world’s elite.
His season’s best matches his career mark, proving his ability to deliver under pressure.
Standing between him and a podium finish are formidable rivals—Norway’s Karsten Warholm, the reigning world champion and world number one; America’s Rai Benjamin, ranked second globally; and Brazil’s Alison dos Santos, currently ranked third.
Nathaniel’s qualification carries added significance because he is Nigeria’s last man standing in Tokyo after 14 other athletes completed their events.
Tobi Amusan remains the country’s only medalist so far, winning silver in the women’s 100m hurdles.
Elsewhere, Ebuka Enekwechi finished fifth in the men’s shot put, while Ajayi Kanyisola managed sixth place in the men’s 100m sprint.
As Nathaniel prepares to step into the blocks, the weight of expectation rests firmly on his shoulders.
His performance tonight is not only about personal achievement but also about carving a new chapter in Nigeria’s track and field history.
Victory would make him a trailblazer, while even a medal of any colour would be groundbreaking.
