Nigeria Faces Setback as Enekwechi, Oji Withdraw from Championship

Nigeria's aspirations to defend the men's shot put title at the 2026 CAA African Championship have suffered a major setback due to the withdrawal of three-time champion Chukwuebuka Enekwechi and women's African shot put record holder Jessica Oji. Enekwechi's absence was confirmed on Monday, just 24 hours before the championship, which is set to take place from May 12 to 17, 2026, at the University of Ghana Sports Complex in Accra.

This withdrawal leaves Nigeria with a weakened squad for the shot put event, relying on Emmanuel Audu and Divin Oladipo. Track and field analyst Christoph Maduewesi disclosed Enekwechi's withdrawal via a post on social media, which came as a surprise given the athlete's strong season, including a second-place finish at the Drake Relays on April 24.

Enekwechi, 33, has been a dominant force since making his championship debut in 2018, winning the title in the last three editions, although he finished modestly at the World Indoor Championship, placing 11th.