Nigeria’s Ezekiel Nathaniel has been backed to win a medal in the men’s 400m hurdles at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo after a Kenyan official singled him out on arrival in Japan, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.

Speaking to Making of Champs at Narita International Airport, the Kenyan representative made clear that while his first loyalty was to his own team, he also wished success for the Nigerian hurdler.

“As much as I’m wishing my team all the best, all the medals, I also wish Nigerian Nathaniel the 400m hurdles to get a medal, at least a medal, either gold, silver, or bronze for the hard-working Nigerians,” he said.

When asked why he picked Nathaniel, the official explained that his view was shaped by the 22-year-old’s consistency.




“I’ve seen him run. I’ve seen him run a couple of races, and he’s come out to be one of the best over a couple of years now,” he said.

Nathaniel arrives in Tokyo as one of Africa’s leading medal hopes. He broke his own Nigerian record this summer at the Silesia Diamond League with a run of 47.31s, finishing between world record-holder Karsten Warholm and Qatar’s Abderrahman Samba. That time ranks him fifth fastest in the world this year.

The fresh Baylor University graduate has also gone unbeaten on the American collegiate circuit and produced the third-fastest mark in NCAA history.

He told the Diamond League media in August that he is confident of finding another gear at the Championships.

“I feel like I’m running fast right now, but I still have more in the tank and I’m ready to do more,” he said.

Nathaniel has already lined up against the best in the world, testing himself against Alison dos Santos and Rai Benjamin in Eugene before going head-to-head with Warholm in Silesia.

He believes that experience has sharpened him. “By running with these guys, I feel like it is different to race with the professionals in the game. It feels good to compete with them,” he said.

The men’s 400m hurdles in Tokyo will once again feature Warholm, Benjamin and Dos Santos, a trio who have transformed the event in recent years and continue to push the boundaries of what is possible. Warholm arrives as world leader after clocking 46.28s in Poland, Benjamin is the Olympic champion, and Dos Santos is seeking to reclaim the world crown he won in Oregon in 2022.

With the heats of the discipline set for September 15, semi-finals two days later and the final on September 19, Nathaniel will be aiming to turn that outside faith into Nigeria’s first global medal in the event.