Five big wishes for African Athletics in 2023

This is an interesting piece on big wishes for African Athletics by Deji Ogeyingbo. 

Five big wishes for African Athletics in 2023

The year 2022 was a big one for African Athletes. From Tobi Amusan and Eliud Kipchoge breaking the world record in the women’s 100m Hurdles and the marathon, to African Championships in Mauritius thrilling fans on the continent to some undiluted action, it has laid the marker for what to expect in 2023.

As expected, the World Championships will top the billing of what to watch out for in 2023, but look out for big exploits from African Athletes in the African Games, Diamond League, and the NCAA circuit in the United States.

Here are some of the five big wishes for African Athletics over the next 12 months. 

1. Letsile Tebogo to break the men’s African Record in the 100m

Africa has a very rich history of producing some of the world’s best sprinters in the last three decades.  Frankie Fredricks, Francis Obikwelu, Olusoji Fasuba, Akani Simbine, and more recently, Ferdinand Omanyala are some of the few that have thrilled the sprinting world. Strangely, the continent is still yet to win its first medalist over the 100m at a world championship.

However, there is a growing feeling that the wheel of fortune will soon turn in Africa’s favor, all thanks to Letsile Tebogo of Botswana. The teenage sensation took the world by storm in 2022 when he beat former world champions Yohan Blake and Simbine in his 100m heats and reached the semi-final at the World Championships in Oregon. 

He followed it up with a stunning performance at the World U20 Championships in Cali, Colombia in which he lowered his own junior record from 9.94 to 9.91s on his way to defending his title. It was his manner of celebration that endeared him to onlookers as he reprised Usain Bolt’s celebration. 

Now in his full season as a senior athlete, there are indications that Tebogo will reach his full potential this year. With the way he took apart the World Junior record this year; he surely will have his eyes fixed on breaking Omanyala’s African Record of 9.77s.

If it happens, it will be the first time in history the record has been broken twice in the span of two years. Also, Tebogo will become the second African sprinter to break the 9.80s barrier over the distance. 

2. The African Games to hold in Ghana in 2023

The African Games are the…