For the first time since the inception of the All Africa Games in 1965, Nigeria failed to make it to the podium in the 100m Women’s event as the final for this year’s race was concluded in Congo on Monday. Ivorian sprinter, Marie-Josee Talou, dethroned Nigeria’s Damola Osayomi to become the new champion of the 100m Women’s event of the All African Games. Osayomi who won the gold last term in Maputo has since quit the scene and is absent in Congo. That has seen the coveted gold in the blue- ribbon event now been taken by Josee Talou who also set a new Championship record with her winning time of 11.02secs on Monday. Interestingly, Nigeria’s Mercy Nku had held the Championship record of 11.03secs for 16 years but the 28-year old Ivorian has now rewritten the history book to have the 100m Championship record to her name. The shock miss by Nigeria on the podium was envisaged as youngster, Cecilia Francis was the only Nigerian athlete registered for the 100m women’s event after last-minutes withdrawals by the likes of Blessing Okagbare and Gloria Asunmu who won Silver and Bronze Medals at the last African Games in Maputo. However, despite running a season best time of 11.53secs from the ‘dreaded’ lane 8, Cecilia could not muster a podium finish as she came 5th in Monday’s final. Interestingly, it was Eunice Kadogo from Kenya who claimed the silver medal in the100m Women’s event, setting a new national record of 11.47 secs while Burkina Faso’s Pon Karidjatou Traore snatched the bronze medal with her time of 11.49. Ivory Coast pulled a double in the 100m event as they also won the men’s category when Ben Youssef Meite beat Nigeria’s Ogho Oghene Egwero in the keenly contested finals. Youssef Meite set a new national record of 10.04secs to win gold while Egwero’s finishing time of 10.17secs could only earn him a silver medal. Another Ivorian, Koffy Wilfried Hua won the bronze medal while Nigeria national champion, Seye Ogunlewe, finished in a disappointing fifth position.