GhanaWeb Feature by Benjamin Sackey
African athletes are gearing up to showcase their brilliance at the 2025 World Athletics Championships, set to take place in Tokyo, Japan, from September 13 to 21, 2025.
With over 2,200 athletes expected to compete for glory, attention will be on how representatives from Africa rise to the occasion and make their continent proud.
This GhanaWeb Sports feature highlights ten African athletes expected to excel at the championships
Abdul-Rasheed Saminu (Ghana)
Abdul-Rasheed Saminu cemented his status as Ghana’s fastest man in history after blazing to an astonishing 9.84 seconds to win the 100 metres at the Last Chance Qualifier in Georgia, USA, breaking his own national record once again.
His earlier performance in May 2025 had already broken Benjamin Azamati’s national mark and made Saminu the first Ghanaian to dip under 9.90 seconds.
His time ranked as the third-fastest in the world in 2025, trailing only Jamaican sprint stars Kishane Thompson (9.75s) and Oblique Seville (9.83s). It is also the second-fastest in NCAA history, behind only Christian Coleman’s 9.82s.
A semi-finalist at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, he also helped Ghana win gold in the 4x100m relay at the African Athletics Championships in 2024. He is expected to replicate that performance at the World Championships.
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Letsile Tebogo (Botswana)
Tebogo announced his presence on the global stage when he surpassed American sprinter Noah Lyles in the 200 metres final at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games to clinch gold.
However, the US star later defeated Tebogo in the Diamond League 100m final. The 22-year-old has struggled to maintain consistent performances due to recurring hamstring injuries.
Speaking ahead of the World Athletics Championships, the Botswana star stated that he is ready to deliver his best at the event.
“This is not my true potential right now. I feel there is still a lot more in the tank that people need to see. I take this as a big motivation,” he said, as reported by the BBC.
Prudence Sekgodisa (South Africa)
The 800 metres South African runner is one of the best on the continent and is tasked with breaking records in her event.
She was the champion at the World Indoor Championships in Nanjing and now aims to better her record by beating Caster Semenya’s national mark of 54.25 seconds, the fourth-fastest time in history.
Faith Kipyegon (Kenya)
The legendary 1500m and 5000m runner is among the athletes expected to excel and further cement her legacy.
She is a three-time Olympic gold medallist over 1500m and a four-time world champion at various athletics meets.
Now 31, Kipyegon is eyeing history, as no athlete has ever won gold in both distance events at more than one championship.
Beatrice Chebet (Kenya)
Kenya’s Beatrice Chebet has made major strides, completing a double over 5000m and 10000m during the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.
She won a silver medal at the 2022 Oregon Games and a bronze in the same event in Budapest 2023.
Chebet will face stiff competition in both events from Ethiopia’s Gudaf Tsegay, the former 5000m world record holder and defending world champion in the 10000m.
Hugues Fabrice Zango (Burkina Faso)
The Burkinabé triple jumper made history as his country’s first-ever Olympic medallist when he won bronze at the delayed Tokyo 2020 Games. He went on to finish fifth at the 2024 Paris Games.
In early 2025, the 32-year-old clinched a bronze medal at the World Indoors in Nanjing. It remains to be seen whether he can replicate that performance at the World Championships.
Soufiane El Bakkali (Morocco)
El Bakkali, Morocco’s world and Olympic champion in the steeplechase, remains dominant in the sport and also excels in the 3000m.
He holds the world-leading time this year with 8 minutes and 0.7 seconds. If he retains his title in Tokyo, he will complete a hat-trick of world championship victories.
Ethiopia’s world record holder, Lamecha Girma, is expected to offer a serious challenge.
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Emmanuel Wanyonyi (Kenya)
The 800 metres specialist is the reigning Olympic champion in the men’s event.
The 21-year-old, who rose from humble beginnings, currently holds the world-leading time of 1:41.44 this year.
He will face stiff competition, particularly from compatriot Mary Moraa, who, despite a challenging season, hopes to defend her world title from Budapest.
Victor Kiplangat (Uganda)
Uganda’s Victor Kiplangat faces a tough task in defending his world marathon title, having only made one appearance this year.
The 25-year-old finished 13th at the Boston Marathon in April 2025.
Tadese Takele (Ethiopia)
Ethiopia’s Tadese Takele has the fastest time this year, with the 23-year-old clocking two hours, three minutes and 23 seconds when he triumphed in Tokyo back in March 2025.
He is aiming to compete for a medal to make history in the marathon race globally
Meanwhile, watch as Ghanaians debate the performance of Black Stars coach Otto Addo
