Ghana’s men’s 4x100m relay team did not arrive in Botswana under ideal conditions. Long flights, little rest, and tight schedules tested both body and mind. Yet when the moment came, they delivered with precision, securing a place at the 2027 World Athletics Championships in Beijing.
It was a performance built on resilience. After narrowly missing automatic qualification on day one, the quartet returned to the track with renewed focus. Their time of 38.09 seconds in the repechage sealed second place and confirmed a fourth straight appearance on the world stage.
The change in approach was clear. Edwin Gadayi moved to the opening leg, while Abdul Rasheed Saminu took over anchoring duties. Benjamin Azamati and Joseph Amoah held the middle, and together they produced a clean, composed race.
Baton exchanges, often the weakest link in relay races, became their strength. Each handover was smooth and controlled, allowing momentum to build from start to finish. It was a display of discipline as much as raw speed.
“We know how to do it now. Qualifying for a fourth straight time is a great feat,” Azamati said. “Now it’s about getting better individually, regrouping and getting faster as a team.”
That confidence, however, came despite difficult preparation. Azamati revealed that while rival teams had weeks to adjust, Ghana’s athletes were still in transit days before the event. “We’re competing against guys who’ve been here one to three weeks while we’ve been traveling since Wednesday and arriving a day before on a new continent,” he said.
Saminu went further, pointing to deeper issues in athlete support. “The Ministry of Sports in Ghana needs to do better, don’t set us up for failure,” he said. “A 14-hour flight with a 16-hour layover is not acceptable for professional athletes. We are running with jet lag, with no proper recovery.”
Those words carry weight. Sprinting at the highest level demands fine margins, where even slight fatigue can decide races. Ghana’s ability to qualify under such strain speaks volumes about their mental strength and growing maturity.
This is not just about one race. Ghana’s relay team has steadily built a reputation over recent years, evolving into a consistent presence at global championships. Each appearance adds experience, and each setback sharpens their edge.
Attention now shifts to the African Athletics Championships in Accra. Competing at home offers both opportunity and pressure, as fans expect more than qualification. They want medals, and perhaps a statement performance.
Ghana Athletics has acknowledged the concerns raised by the athletes. President Bawah Fuseini has promised that steps will be taken to prevent a repeat of the logistical challenges. It is a response that must now translate into action.
For now, the focus remains on the track. This team has shown they can rise when it matters. With better preparation and continued growth, they may soon do more than qualify.
