Every season, top Nigerian male athletes are carefully selected based on their exceptional performances, impact, and the remarkable brilliance they have shown in the sport of Athletics. After an in-depth evaluation, we are proud to present our Top 10 Male Athletes of 2024 who have stood out for their dedication, excellence and contributions to Nigerian Track and Field.
10. Godson Brume
Brume had an outstanding season, with much of his achievements taking place within the NCAA circuit. He became the second Nigerian sprinter, following Favour Ashe, to qualify for the Olympics in the men’s 100m, securing his spot by winning the SEC title with a time of 9.99s. The LSU junior finished 4th in the men’s 100m and also played a key role in helping his team secure second place in the men’s 4x100m relay at the NCAA Championships.
Brume represented Nigeria at the African Championships, making it to the semifinals and anchoring the 4x100m relay team to a Silver medal. Although an injury during training at a High Performance camp prevented him from competing in the Olympics, Brume’s determination and talent promise a bright future, with even greater achievements likely ahead.
9. Usheoritse Itsekiri
Itsekiri has firmly established himself as one of Nigeria’s most consistent and talented sprinters in the last five years. This season, Itsekiri continued to showcase his brilliance both home and abroad, further solidifying his place among the country’s top athletes. He began his outdoor season at the African Games where he won a Silver medal in the 100m and anchored the men’s 4x100m relay team to a thrilling GOLD medal.
One of the standout moments of Itsekiri’s season came at the Royal City Inferno Track and Field Festival where he clocked a wind-aided time of 9.97s (+2.1) to take the men’s 100m title. Less than two weeks later at the Nigerian Olympic Trials, he finished 3rd in the men’s 100m and also helped secure a Silver medal in the men’s 4x100m relay at the African Championships in Douala, Cameroon. His stellar performances earned him a spot in the Olympics as part of the 4x100m relay team where he served as the anchor for the squad.
8. Emmanuel Ojeli
Emmanuel Ojeli has quickly become one of Nigeria’s top quartermile runners, known for his consistency and remarkable performances. This season, he solidified his place on both national and international stages, continuing to rise as a key athlete in his discipline.
Ojeli began his season at the MTN CHAMPS/African Games Trial where his strong performance earned him a spot on the team to Accra. He was a crucial member of the GOLD-winning mixed 4x400m relay squad that set a new African and African Games records in Accra. At the Nigerian Olympic Trials, he finished 2nd, securing a spot in the African Championships where he helped the mixed 4x400m team to a 2nd-place finish and placed 4th in the men’s 4x400m relay.
His excellent form earned him qualification for his second consecutive Olympics as part of both the men’s 4x400m and mixed 4x400m relay teams, with the latter setting a new Nigerian Record (NR) of 3:11.99. Ojeli rounded off his season with a Personal Best (PB) of 20.56s in the 200m, marking an impressive finish to a standout year.
7. Favour Ashe
Favour Ashe has come a long way from being a promising talent to becoming an Olympic semifinalist in 2024. He launched his season in style at the Pepsi Florida Relays, clocking 9.99s in the 100m, making him the first man globally in 2024 to break the 10-second barrier and secured his qualification for the Paris Olympics. At the NCAA East First Rounds, the 2022 Nigerian National 100m champion set a new Personal Best (PB) of 9.94s, winning the semifinals.
Ashe continued his impressive form at the NCAA Championships, running 9.99s to finish 2nd and helping Auburn secure a 2-3 finish, with teammate Kayinsola Ajayi claiming the Bronze. His 9.99s took his tally of sub-10s to six , which automatically made him the Nigerian sprinter with the highest number of sub-10s performances. Ashe made his Olympic debut in Paris, reaching the semifinals of the men’s 100m. He was also a part of the 4x100m quartet at the Games.
6. Chidi Okezie
Chidi Okezie who has been competing for Nigeria for almost a decade, finally got his ground-breaking moment this season by winning his first ever international individual title. He clinched GOLD in the men’s 400m with a Personal Best (PB) of 45.06s and Bronze in the men’s 4x400m at the African Games in Accra, Ghana. This victory made him the first Nigerian man to win the 400m title at the African Games since Innocent Egbunike in 1987.
Okezie continued his success in international competition, playing a monumental role at the World Relays in the Bahamas, helping the men’s 4x400m and mixed 4x400m teams secure their spots for the Paris Olympics, with the men’s team posting their fastest time in two decades—3:01.70. In June, he set a new lifetime best of 44.97s in Edmonton, Canada, breaking the 45-second barrier for the first time in his career. He would go on to compete in both the 400m and men’s 4x400m at the Olympic Games in Paris.
