By Ben Efe 23.6.2026
Ashe Tejiri Favour Tuesday reminded critics that he still has fire in his legs when he posted 9.93seconds to win the men’s 100m title of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria Commonwealth Games trial.
The sprinter had seen stormy days and rough patches in recent times; and was a shadow of himself at the African Championships in Accra Ghana. But running against tested sprinters at the Yaba College of Technology Sports Complex Lagos, Ashe Favour certainly picked the right time to bounce back to reckoning and the crowd loved every bit of it, they stood up for the champion when the dust was settled.
Ashe Favour had sounded a note of warning in the semi-finals when he practically eased to a 9.98 secs finish, and in the final, he demonstrated that this race was not a fluke.
Ashe Favour was in total control and was not under any pressure as he separated himself from the pack, coasting home to finish at 9.93seconds with a legit wind of 0.5, overshadowing his 2024 personal best of 9.94 seconds.
Nicholas Adelaku Fokorede benefited from chasing down Ashe Favour, he finished 9.98 seconds personal best, so did Chidera Eziakor who also clocked a personal best of 10.03 seconds
“After the African Championships in Ghana, I was depressed. I read some of the comments, people saying ‘Ashe is washed and finished.’
“I decided to lock in for one month, I know what I am capable of, ” said Ashe Favour who is claiming his second national title.
The men’s 400m final also provided excitements as Tyler Johnson who recently completed his switch of allegiance to Nigeria from USA, won with a time of 45.76secs, Victory Achakpoekiri clinched the second spot with 45.91secs and Emmanuel Ojeli in third position with 45.94secs.
In the 400m women’s final, veteran Patience Okon-George, won the race with 51.85secs followed by Taiwo Kudoro in second position with 52.30secs and the new kid on the block, Faith Ezechukwu of Bayelsa State who returned third with a new personal best of 53.12secs.