Three-time African shot put champ Enekwechi withdraws from Ghana Championships 24hrs before start
Chukwuebuka Enekwechi, Nigeria's three-time African shot put champion and record holder, has withdrawn from the 2026 CAA African Championships in Ghana just 24 hours before competition begins at the University of Ghana Sports Complex. His absence confirms a major blow to Team Nigeria's field events, which already lacked women's record holder Jessica Oji due to injury. The withdrawal was reported Monday by Making of Champions journalist Christopher Maduewesi, who noted Emmanuel Audu and Divine Oladipo will now represent Nigeria in shot put.
This comes amid multiple setbacks for the contingent: national decathlon record holder Jami Schlueter cannot travel due to visa complications, while sprinter Enoch Adegoke remains injured (replaced by late addition Osama Chibueze). Enekwechi's withdrawal is surprising given his recent activity—he competed at South Africa's Simbine Classic and holds a season's best of 21.74m from the Drake Relays. His African record stands at 22.10m set at the 2025 Prefontaine Classic, where he became the first African to surpass 22 metres in shot put.
Nigeria now faces its shot put events with significantly reduced depth despite Enekwechi's legacy of three consecutive African Championship titles (2018-2022) and seven of Africa's top 10 all-time throws. Audu and Oladipo must fill the void as the country seeks to maintain its medal tradition in Accra.
With Nigeria's star thrower sidelined, will Audu and Oladipo rise to the occasion to preserve the country's shot put dominance, or does this opening allow rivals like Egypt and South Africa to challenge Nigeria's stronghold on the podium?