Gafar Badmus is Nigeria’s new 400m sensation, and his recent string of performances proves he’s on the rise. At the National U20 Championships, Badmus lit up the track with a commanding 45.78s to claim the junior title, showing maturity and control beyond his years. His win wasn’t just about the gold it was a statement of dominance over rising stars like David Akhalu (46.34s PB) and Ezekiel Eno (46.42s PB). It’s performances like these that separate contenders from champions, and Badmus is clearly staking his claim in the latter category. With this victory, Badmus not only claimed national gold but also secured his spot on Team Nigeria for the upcoming African U18/U20 Championships in Abeokuta, scheduled for July 16–20.
The progression of Gafar Badmus over the past three seasons is nothing short of extraordinary. In 2022, he was still raw, clocking 50.01s. Fast forward to 2023 and 2024, he trimmed that down to 48.20s and then to 46.92s, respectively. Now in 2025, he’s running mid 45s with confidence and consistency. Representing Nigeria at the 2024 World U20 Championships put him on the international radar, but it’s his hunger and steady improvement that make him one to watch in the 400m for years to come. He’s clearly no flash in the pan his development has been methodical and well earned.
His performances at the 22nd National Sports Festival for Ogun State further sealed his growing reputation. He showed top tier competitiveness across all three rounds running a solid 45.92s in the heats, dropping to 45.65s in the semis, and holding that time again in the final to claim silver. That ability to maintain pace and handle pressure across rounds shows a level of conditioning and race IQ that even senior athletes envy. At just 17, Gafar Badmus is more than a junior star he’s Nigeria’s next big 400m name in the making.
