The MoC Athletics Academy, sponsored by MTN, fielded a 9-athlete team at the 2025 National Athletics Championships held from August 1st to 3rd at the Yaba College of Technology Sports Complex in Lagos, rounding off a truly remarkable season.
African U-20 Silver medallist Ezekiel Asuquo continued his outstanding form, finishing 2nd in the men’s 400m final with a time of 46.29, the second-fastest mark of his career. He placed just behind his long-time rival Gafar Badmus, who won the national title in 45.71s.
Asuquo’s training partner, Benjamin Magaji, finished 5th in the final with a time of 47.78s, following a 47.55s run in the semifinals. He had previously won his heat on Day 1 of the competition. Junior athletes Stephen Adejumo (48.53s) and Prosper Ushie (49.04s) both advanced to the semifinals of the men’s 400m.
Asuquo and Magaji made their debut appearances for the Nigerian senior team during the Trials, where they were included in Team B for the men’s 4x400m relay in a qualification bid for the upcoming World Championships in Tokyo. Their selection signals a promising future and highlights their potential to become regulars on the senior team in the years ahead.
On the women’s side, African U-20 400m Bronze medallist Toheebat Jimoh and 3-time National Sports Festival Bronze medallist Miracle Uwem Donald both qualified for the final after placing 2nd in their respective heats with times of 53.68s and 54.33s. However, the pair had to withdraw from the final due to injury concerns.
In the short sprints, Showers Ushie placed 2nd in his heat of the men’s 100m where he raced to a new Personal Best (PB) of 10.63s but narrowly missed out on advancing to the next round based on time.
In the women’s event, Azeezat Muhammed-Raji achieved a major breakthrough, winning her repechage heat with a lifetime best of 11.83 seconds, her first sub-12-second clocking, and defeating more seasoned competitors in the process. She had earlier posted a wind-assisted time of 11.73s.
African U-20 200m Bronze medallist Lucy Nwankwo also impressed, advancing to the semifinals of the women’s 100m after recording a wind-aided 11.70s in the heats. Both Nwankwo and Muhammed-Raji ran sub-12 performances in the semifinals but missed out on places in the final.
The 2025 Athletics season was indeed a remarkable one for Athletes of the MoC Athletics Academy, who have made tremendous progress in the last year, having been brought under the tutelage of their Olympic medallist Coach Deji Aliu in August 2024.
10 Athletes from the club competed at the 2024 National Sports Festival held in Ogun State, representing Lagos, Ogun and Akwa Ibom States respectively, collectively winning 10 medals.
Three athletes: Asuquo, Jimoh and Nwankwo also made the Nigerian team to the African U18 & U20 Championships in Abeokuta, where they won individual medals in their respective events, and added two more medals in the relays to their tally.
With several personal bests, national podium finishes, and semifinal appearances, MoC Academy’s young team is setting the stage for a brighter future for Nigerian Athletics.
