By: Kwame Bediako
Abdul-Rasheed Saminu has dethroned Benjamin Azamati as Ghana’s top-ranked men’s 100m sprinter, according to the latest World Athletics rankings released on May 20, 2025. Saminu, 27, now holds the 37th spot globally and 8th in Africa, marking a significant shift in Ghanaian sprinting dynamics.
Saminu’s impressive start to the 2025 season has been the driving force behind his rise to the top. At the Pepsi Florida Relays in April, he clocked a wind-assisted 9.87 seconds, showcasing his potential. He followed this up with a commanding 10.06-second victory at the East Coast Relays, improving his heat time by 0.16 seconds.
Although a disqualification in the heats at the American Conference Outdoor Championships interrupted his momentum, Saminu’s early-season form has propelled him 13 places up the global rankings since January.
Azamati & Saminu
Meanwhile, Benjamin Azamati, also 27, remains a formidable competitor despite slipping to 38th globally and 9th in Africa. Azamati opened his season with a 10.07-second win at the Mt. SAC Relays in California and followed it up with a 10.02-second triumph at Arizona’s Desert Heat Classic.
His standout performance came at the Franson Last Chance meet in California, where he ran a season’s best of 9.93 seconds, just 0.06 seconds behind world No. 4 Fred Kerley of the USA.
The rivalry between Saminu and Azamati is expected to intensify as the season progresses. Both athletes have shown impressive form and are vying for dominance in Ghanaian sprinting.
Their performances at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, where they both qualified for the men’s 100m semi-finals, are a testament to their capabilities.
