By Ngunyi Sonita Nwohtazie
Cameroon’s athletics team is scripting one of its finest chapters on the continental stage as the Lions and Lionesses continue an impressive medal harvest at the 24th African Senior Athletics Championships in Accra, Ghana.
With explosive performances on the track and remarkable dominance in the field events, Cameroon has surged into the top tier of the medal standings, occupying fifth place overall with three gold medals, two silver and one bronze after Day Five of the competition. South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya, and Ethiopia stand ahead of the Cameroonian delegation in what has become a memorable championship.
Eseme Confirms Sprint Supremacy
At the heart of Cameroon’s success is sprint sensation Emmanuel Eseme, who once again proved why he remains Africa’s fastest man. The reigning continental sprint king stormed to gold in the men’s 100 meters, delivering yet another commanding performance on African soil. Eseme’s triumph further cements his growing legacy as one of the continent’s greatest sprinters of the modern era.
Nicknamed by many as Cameroon’s “fastest man”, the 32-year-old has steadily built an extraordinary resume that now places him among Africa’s elite speed merchants. Born on August 17, 1993, Eseme holds three Cameroonian national records and remains the first athlete from Cameroon to break the iconic 10-second barrier in the men’s 100 meters, clocking a blistering 9.96 seconds. His personal bests also include 6.52 seconds in the indoor 60 meters and 20.23 seconds in the 200 meters.
His rise to continental dominance has been backed by strong performances on the international circuit. At the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, where he served as Cameroon’s flag bearer, Eseme reached the semifinals of the men’s 100 metres after producing a sub-10-second performance in the heats.
The sprint ace has also shone on the Diamond League circuit, capturing victories in Marrakech and Stockholm in 2024, while famously defeating Canadian sprint legend Andre De Grasse at the Simbine Classic earlier this year.
His Accra triumph adds another prestigious title to an already glittering palmarès that includes African Games gold, Francophonie Games success and multiple Islamic Solidarity Games medals.
Nora Atim Monie Makes History in the Circle
If Eseme electrified the track, Nora Atim Monie delivered history in the field. The 29-year-old thrower from Cameroon’s North-West Region produced a sensational throw of 57.00 metres on her fourth attempt to clinch gold in the women’s discus throw and become the first Cameroonian athlete ever to win the event at the African Senior Athletics Championships.
Monie’s victory represents a landmark achievement for Cameroonian athletics and a breakthrough moment for the nation in field events. Her road to glory has been one of persistence and resilience. During the previous African Championships hosted in Cameroon, she narrowly missed the podium. However, she returned stronger, first winning bronze at the African Games earlier in 2024 at the same venue in Accra before now ascending to the top of the podium.
She had previously captured silver at the 2022 African Championships in Mauritius, making her latest achievement a deserved continental coronation.
Nigeria’s Divine Oladipo settled for silver with a throw of 55.37 metres, while Obiageri Amaechi claimed bronze with 53.23 metres.
Kole Etame Adds Another Sprint Crown
Cameroon’s golden run continued with Hervérge Kole Etame also emerging African champion in the men’s 100 metres category, clocking 10.25 seconds in a thrilling dash to the line.
His victory further underlined Cameroon’s growing dominance in sprint events and showcased the country’s expanding depth in athletics talent. Cameroon’s medal tally was further boosted by Linda Angounou, who battled to a bronze medal finish in the women’s 400 metres hurdles.
Her podium appearance demonstrated Cameroon’s versatility across both track and field disciplines at the championships. The performances in Accra signal a new era for Cameroonian athletics. From explosive sprint finishes to historic field-event triumphs, the nation’s athletes are proving they can challenge Africa’s traditional powerhouses.
With several finals still to come before the championships conclude on May 17 at the University of Ghana Stadium in Legon, hopes remain high for an even greater medal haul.
