Saminu loses Ghana No. 1 spot as Azamati roars back

Ghanaian sprinter Abdul-Rasheed Saminu’s reign as Ghana’s highest-ranked men’s 100m athlete has ended after just one month at the top, following the latest World Athletics rankings update on Tuesday, 17 June.

The 26-year-old, who enjoyed a meteoric rise in 2025—climbing from 51st to 37th in the global rankings—has now slipped to 43rd, while compatriot Benjamin Azamati reclaims his status as Ghana’s number one sprinter.

Saminu’s stellar 2025 season

Saminu’s 2025 season has seen him shatter Ghana’s national 100m record in May, clocking an astonishing 9.86 seconds—breaking Azamati’s previous mark of 9.90 seconds set in 2022.

At one stage, he even held the world’s fastest time this year before American Trayvon Bromell surpassed him.

His performances propelled him into the top 10 in Africa and briefly made him Ghana’s leading sprinter, ending Azamati’s four-year dominance. However, the latest rankings reveal a shift in fortunes.

Azamati fights back

Azamati has responded in style, delivering consistent podium finishes in every 100m race this season.

His standout performance came at the McNab Sprint Series in May, where he blazed to a 9.98-second finish.

The resurgence sees Azamati leapfrog Saminu in the rankings, moving up to 38th globally and ninth in Africa, while Saminu drops to 43rd worldwide and 11th on the continent.

What’s next for Ghana’s sprint stars?

With both athletes in peak form, the battle for supremacy promises thrilling head-to-head clashes ahead of major championships.

Can Saminu reclaim the top spot, or will Azamati solidify his comeback?

For now, Ghana’s sprinting crown has changed hands once again—proving that in athletics, rankings are as dynamic as the races themselves.