World Champs: Ezekiel Nathaniel ends Nigeria’s 38-year wait for men’s 400m hurdles final

By Emmanuel Okogba

Ezekiel Nathaniel ended Nigeria’s 38-year hold for a spot successful the last of the men’s 400m hurdles lawsuit astatine the World Athletics Championships aft winning Heat 2 and qualifying with the fastest clip connected Wednesday.

The past Nigerian to bash truthful was Henry Amike successful 1987 successful Italy, wherever helium yet finished sixth successful 48.63s.

Nathaniel, Nigeria’s existent grounds holder successful the event, finished successful 47.47s up of Qatar’s Ismail Abakar who acceptable a PB of 47.61s, and USA’s Caleb Dean successful 47.85s.

Nigeria’s Ezekiel Nathaniel (C) reacts aft crossing the enactment adjacent to Brazil’s Matheus Lima successful the men’s 400m hurdles semi-final during the World Athletics Championships successful Tokyo connected September 17, 2025. (Photo by Philip FONG / AFP)

Although moving from a challenging Lane 8, Nathaniel was resilient and held his ain to triumph the race, and is expected to person a podium decorativeness successful a last has apical contenders similar Brazil’s Alison Dos Santos, Norwegian, Karsten Warholm, and USA’s Rai Benjamin.

He volition tally the last from Lane 6 acceptable for Friday.

See last line-up below

The station World Champs: Ezekiel Nathaniel ends Nigeria’s 38-year hold for men’s 400m hurdles final appeared archetypal connected Vanguard News.