Every year, Nigerian male athletes continue to impress. Their commendable performances have shaped the country’s Track and Field landscape, making 2025 a remarkable year. We kick off our annual Toplists with Nigeria’s Top 10 Male Athletes in 2025 (Part 1). Here we go!
10. Edidiong Udo
Edidiong Udo has proven that true strength comes from within. After losing both his parents early this year, he continued to push forward, following his athletic scholarship to The Ohio State University. Having stepped down from the 800m to the 400m, Udo did amazing things on the track this year.
He kicked off his season by winning the men’s 600m at the UK Rod McCravy Invite with a time of 1:16.77s. It was the second-fastest indoor 600m time for a Nigerian, behind Edose Ibadin’s 1:15.89 in 2024. He clocked a huge Personal Best (PB) of 45.61s in his first 400m race for Ohio State and posted 46.42s at the Clemson Invitational a fortnight later.
In April, Udo smashed his PB to 45.19s at the Tom Jones Memorial in Florida, and went on to win a Bronze medal at the Big 10 Championships in Oregon with a time of 45.78s. He qualified for the Championships after racing to a time of 45.27s at the NCAA East Prelims in Florida. He was on the 4x400m relay team at the NCAA Championships, where Ohio State finished sixth in the semis in 3:04.61. The Freshman ended his season thereafter.
9. Alaba Akintola
Akintola started his 2025 season strongly at the PNC Lenny Lyles Invitational in Louisville, runing 6.66s twice and finishing 3rd in the men’s 60m final. One of the best moments of his season came when he went on to set a new PB of 20.23s (+0.1) to win the men’s 200m at the Meeting Ciudad de Malaga in Spain, having finished 2nd in the 100m with a time of 10.17s.
In July, the two-time National Champion set a Meet Record (MR) of 10.18s (-0.4) to win the men’s 100m at the Grand Prix Nove Mesto nad Metuji in Czechia. He went on to set a Season’s Best (SB) of 10.11s (+1.5m/s) in the men’s 100m at the McEachern Last Chance Qualifier in Georgia, finishing 2nd. He also won the men’s 200m in 20.28s.
Competing at the National Trials in Abeokuta, Akintola raced to 2nd place in the 100m, retaining his position from the previous year, marking the fourth consecutive year the sprinter has finished Top 3 at the Nigerian Championships in either the 100m or 200m. The season ended on a high note for Akintola who signed with Joma Sport, a Spanish sportswear company, marking a new chapter in his career.
8. Charles Godfred
Charles Edward Godfred may not have reached the final of the men’s long jump at the World Championships in Tokyo, but his journey to getting there is a testament to his formidable season.
Godfred kicked off his outdoor season at the Arizona Spring Break Fiesta, winning with a jump of 7.93m (+1.2). One of his standout moments came at the USF Alumni Invitational in Florida, where he soared to an SB of 8.01m (+1.8), winning the men’s long jump. He followed that up with victories at the Florida Relays (7.99m, +2.3) and the Drake Relays, jumping 8.13m (+3.5) on his third attempt, also marking a wind-legal 8.03m (1.8) in the series.
Godfred retained his Big Ten Outdoor title with a leap of 8.05m, and jumped 8.10m at the NCAA West Prelims in Texas, eventually finishing 4th at the NCAA Championships with a best mark of 7.91m (+0.3), his first loss of the year. Godfred successfully defended his National title (7.95m) and made history as the first Nigerian long jumper in 16 years to compete at the World Athletics Championships after Stanley Gbabeke, who competed in Berlin in 2009.
7. Chidi Okezie
Chidi Okezie remains a true leader among Nigeria’s quarter milers. 2025 marks 10 years since Okezie began representing Nigeria, making his entry in 2015 at the Nigerian Championships in Sapele where he won the national 400m title. To celebrate his decade of service, Okezie added another national title to his collection, winning his first 200m crown with a PB of 20.62s.
Okezie started his outdoor season at the Botswana Golden Grand Prix, racing to an SB of 45.15s to finish 4th, marking his fastest season opener. He lowered his SB to 44.98s at the Kip Keino Classic, the second fastest time of his career, settling for 2nd place. He followed that up with a clocking of 45.23s at the Edmonton Athletics Invitational, finishing 2nd.
The highlight of Okezie’s season was making his first World Championships appearance at Tokyo 2025, competing in the heats. Throughout his career, Okezie has always given his best for Nigeria, proudly wearing the green and white colours and representing his country with honour.
6. Udodi Onwuzurike
Former World U-20 Champion Udodi Onwuzurike kicked off his 2025 season at the RADD Invitational in Gainesville. He ran 6.70s, finishing 2nd in his 60m heat against Lyles. Next, he competed in the men’s 200m at the Tom Jones Invitational in Florida, placing 2nd in his heat with a time of 20.50s (-1.0).
In May, Onwuzurike had a standout performance at the Adidas Atlanta City Games, running 10.05s (+2.3) to place 2nd in the final. At the Folksam Grand Prix in Varberg, he clocked a legal SB of 10.13s (-0.1), securing 3rd place. He finished 3rd again at ISTAF Berlin with a time of 10.22s. The 2023 NCAA Champion then lowered his SB to 10.09s in the 100m at the Motonet Grand Prix in Oulu, Finland, where he crossed the line in 2nd.
Onwuzurike clocked his 200m SB of 20.17s (+0.4m/s) to win at the Meeting voor Mon in Belgium and qualified for the World Championships via the world rankings, becoming Nigeria’s sole representative in the 200m. Competing at his second World Championships, Onwuzurike made it to the semis, a commendable performance for the sprinter who had battled injuries in the course of the season.
