Three-time African shot put champion Chukwuebuka Enekwechi has withdrawn from Nigeria’s team to the CAA African Championships in Ghana, dealing a major blow to the country’s medal prospects in the throws.

The United States-based thrower, widely regarded as Africa’s premier shot putter, had been expected to chase a fourth consecutive continental crown in Accra. His name, however, was quietly removed from the final Nigerian list, and team sources have yet to provide a clear explanation for his absence.

The withdrawal is particularly jarring given Enekwechi’s recent form. He opened his outdoor campaign strongly, throwing 21.74m at the Drake Relays to finish second, and competed at the Simbine Classic in South Africa, suggesting he was building towards another peak performance for the African Championships.

Officials of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria have not publicly commented on the development, and attempts to reach coaches and team managers have so far been unsuccessful. Without an official statement, speculation has ranged from fitness concerns to logistical or administrative issues, but nothing has been confirmed.

Enekwechi’s absence leaves Nigeria exposed in an event it has dominated in recent years. The 33-year-old has won every African Championships title since his debut in Asaba in 2018, using the continental stage as a springboard to global relevance. He finished 11th at the World Indoor Championships earlier this season with 20.04m, but his outdoor record remains formidable.

Last season he became the first African man to break the 22m barrier, setting a continental record of 22.10m at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene. That performance cemented his status as a genuine world-class contender and placed him among the top performers globally.

In Accra, Nigeria will now rely on Emmanuel Audu in the men’s shot put and Divine Oladipo in the women’s event. Both athletes are promising, but neither carries the pedigree or fear factor of Enekwechi, whose presence has often guaranteed Nigeria a podium finish.

The late withdrawal, combined with the absence of women’s African record holder Jessica Oji and decathlon national record holder Jami Schlueter, underscores a difficult build-up for Team Nigeria. For a federation already under scrutiny for planning and athlete welfare, the loss of its most reliable field-event star raises fresh questions ahead of the championship.