Kanyinsola Ajayi makes history as first Nigerian in 18 years to reach world 100m final

Nigerian sprinting sensation Kanyinsola Ajayi has etched his name into the history books, becoming the first Nigerian man in 18 years to reach the men’s 100m final at the World Athletics Championships. The 21-year-old achieved the milestone on his birthday in Tokyo, delivering a performance that has reignited Nigeria’s hopes of a podium finish in the flagship sprint event.

Ajayi stunned fans in the heats with a blistering 9.88 seconds run, a lifetime best that also stands as the fastest time ever clocked by a Nigerian athlete at the World Championships. His powerful start and smooth acceleration placed him just behind South Africa’s Gift Leotlela, who crossed the line in 9.87s. The time not only marked Ajayi as one of the fastest sprinters of the meet but also confirmed him as a serious contender for a medal.

Semifinal brilliance secures historic spot

After his record-breaking run in the heats, Ajayi returned for the semifinals under intense global attention. The Auburn University standout kept his composure and delivered another world-class race, finishing second in 9.93s, narrowly behind reigning Olympic and world champion Noah Lyles, who won the semifinal in 9.92s.

See also: Women’s 100M

This second-place finish was enough to book Ajayi’s ticket to the final, making him the first Nigerian sprinter to reach this stage since Olusoji Fasuba in Osaka 2007. Fasuba had famously finished fourth in that final, missing a medal by a whisker, and Ajayi now carries the hopes of breaking that near two-decade-long medal drought.

Ajayi’s rise has been nothing short of remarkable. The young sprinter’s form throughout the 2025 season has shown steady improvement, and his Tokyo performance signals Nigeria’s return to world-class sprinting. With his 9.88s mark ranking among the top times globally this year, Ajayi has positioned himself among the elite alongside American and Jamaican powerhouses.

Nigeria’s long wait for sprint glory

Nigeria’s last significant impact on the men’s 100m world stage came during Fasuba’s era, when he not only reached the Osaka 2007 final but also went on to set the African record of 9.85s in 2006, a record that still stands today. Since then, Nigerian sprinters have struggled to break into the global top tier, often bowing out in the early rounds at major championships.

Ajayi’s qualification therefore marks a symbolic resurgence for Nigerian athletics, which has been seeking fresh stars to restore the nation’s sprint dominance. His success adds to what has already been a promising start for Team Nigeria in Tokyo. Alongside Ajayi, Chukwuebuka Enekwechi impressed in the men’s shot put qualification, while Israel Okon shone in the men’s 400m heats, giving Nigerian fans multiple reasons to celebrate.

Looking ahead, Ajayi now faces the toughest race of his young career, the men’s 100m final, where he will line up against Noah Lyles, Ferdinand Omanyala, and other sprint heavyweights. A podium finish would not only give Nigeria its first ever men’s 100m medal at the World Championships but also cement Ajayi as the country’s new face of athletics.

The final is scheduled to take place under the bright lights of Tokyo’s Olympic Stadium, and Nigerian fans are eagerly anticipating the moment. Ajayi’s composure, explosive start, and recent form suggest he has what it takes to challenge for the medals, and possibly even rewrite more history.