Several Ghanaian sports personalities have voiced their disappointment over what has been described by many as a poor performance of Ghana’s Men’s 4x100m relay team at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.
Some questioned why the athletes repeated the same baton change mistake that had hindered them in previous tournaments.
Others encouraged the team to focus on improving their baton change to avoid repeating the same error in future competitions and to make the nation proud.
Notable sports personalities like Fentuo Tahiru Fentuo, Gary Al-Smith, George Addo Jnr, Owurako Ampofo, Godfred Akoto Boafo, and Nana Aba Anamoah were among those who commented.
The team was disqualified, rendering their time of 38.62s invalid, which would have placed them sixth.
Rasheed Saminu started well but struggled with the baton change to Benjamin Azamati, affecting their momentum.
Azamati successfully passed the baton to Ibrahim Fuseini, but the final change to Joseph Paul Amoah was delayed. Despite this, Amoah managed to secure the sixth spot.
China won the heats with a time of 38.24s, followed by France at 38.34s, and Canada at 38.39s.
As a result, no Ghanaian athlete won a medal at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, despite high public expectations.
View the tweets below:
GHANA has been DISQUALIFIED for making the baton change outside the zone in the final leg.
— Fentuo Tahiru Fentuo (@Fentuo_) August 8, 2024
It gets worse! #Paris2024 pic.twitter.com/2xNAYz06jn
How 🇬🇭 Ghana messed up the baton changes in the men's 4x100m relay. #Paris2024pic.twitter.com/6stiw9llCF
— Gary Al-Smith (@garyalsmith) August 8, 2024
Too many issues with this 🇬🇭🇬🇭race, from strategy to personnel and performance.
— George Addo Jnr (@addojunr) August 8, 2024
Very disappointing!!!
pic.twitter.com/KAuj3s7EZh
🇬🇭 Most of Team Ghana came onto the scene 3-4 years ago running under 10 seconds.
— Owuraku Ampofo (@_owurakuampofo) August 8, 2024
Joe Paul and Azamati hold National Records that stood since 1990s.
Can we confidently say they have improved since then?
Raw talent can only take you so far in these competitions. #Paris2024 pic.twitter.com/SRBQw75cNw
Ghana’s relay team is the 5th best in the world.
— nana aba (@thenanaaba) August 8, 2024
We meeeeeuuuuuuvvveee.
Baton change wahala.
— Godfred Akoto Boafo (@eastsportsman) August 8, 2024
SB/OGB