Benjamin Azamati and Abdul-Rasheed Saminu are on the brink of a historic achievement as they strive to become the first Ghanaians to reach the men’s 100m final at the Olympic Games since 2004.
The last Ghanaian sprinter to achieve this milestone was Aziz Zakari, who competed in the final at the Athens Olympics but was forced to withdraw due to a hamstring injury.
Benjamin Azamati will compete in Semi-Final 1, where he will face reigning world champion Noah Lyles, a strong contender for the gold medal. He will also race against Emmanuel Eseme from Cameroon, the recent gold medalist at the African Games held in Accra.
Despite finishing fifth behind Eseme in the African Games, Azamati’s impressive performance in the heats, where he secured second place, has sparked optimism. As the national record holder, Azamati’s prospects of reaching his first Olympic final look promising.
Abdul-Rasheed Saminu will race in Semi-Final 2 against formidable opponents, including Kishane Thompson, the fastest man of 2024, and Canadian sprinting star Andre De Grasse.
Saminu earned his Olympic spot through world rankings and has made significant progress this season, including setting a personal best of 10.02 seconds. His recent performances have showcased his potential despite the challenges he faces.
The semi-finals are scheduled to start at 6 pm local time. Both sprinters are set to face tough competition but have demonstrated remarkable performances throughout the season.
Advancing to the final would mark a significant achievement for Ghanaian athletics, reviving the nation’s sprinting legacy and inspiring future generations.
With the excitement building among Ghanaian fans, the upcoming races are eagerly anticipated as Azamati and Saminu aim to make history for their country.
