Cameroonian sprint star Emmanuel Eseme says he is still “building speed” early in the outdoor season but remains determined to finally claim the elusive African Senior Athletics title after securing qualification to the men’s 100m semi-finals at the 24th CAA Senior Athletics Championship in Accra.
Eseme eased through his heat at the University of Ghana Stadium, finishing first to book his place in the next round of the competition.
The 32-year-old, one of Africa’s leading sprinters in recent years, later told journalists that his preparations are focused on peaking later in the season despite his strong showing in Accra. “Right now I think we’re still building speed because the outdoor season just began,” Eseme said after the race. “So now I can say we are 50 per cent because the goal is to get to the ultimate championships at the peak.”
The Cameroonian has consistently remained among the continent’s top sprinters over the past three seasons and believes gradual technical improvements are helping him move closer to his full potential.
Eseme Focused on Improving
Eseme admitted maintaining elite-level consistency has not been straightforward, especially after emerging relatively late into athletics compared to many of his rivals.
“I wouldn’t say it’s an easy thing because it’s one thing to get among the best in the world and it’s another thing to stay there. I just believe in myself. Luckily I have a very understanding coach and we’re doing everything to just get me better over the years.”
Emmanuel Eseme, Cameroonian Sprint star
The sprinter added that he still sees room for growth despite already competing on some of athletics’ biggest stages, including the Olympic Games and World Championships. “I started athletics really late so I believe I’m still learning and once I’m going to get the basics like we’re doing right now, I think it’s going to be a different topic,” he said confidently.
Eseme’s rise in global sprinting has gathered momentum over recent years. He competed in the men’s 200m at the 2019 World Athletics Championships in Doha and also represented Cameroon at the African Games that same year.
He later featured for Cameroon at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games before announcing himself further on the international stage with a third-place finish in the men’s 100m at the 2023 Diamond League meeting in Silesia, Poland. He also competed in the men’s 100m at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
Despite those achievements, the African Championships title remains unfinished business for the Cameroonian sprinter. “The African Championships for me, I have always been second,” Eseme said while reflecting on previous near misses. “I lost it by a little bit in Douala. I’m just here to be able to get that title, not just for me but for Cameroon, for Africa.”
Beyond his own ambitions, Eseme believes African sprinting is entering a new era capable of challenging the traditional global powers in the 100m event.
“One of the things that worries me a lot is the fact that we’ve never had an African on the podium at any world championships in 100 metres. But the new generation is taking it to a different level. I think Africa is growing, and if we just keep going at this pace, we’re going to be unstoppable.”
Emmanuel Eseme
Eseme revealed that one of the major focuses of his training this year has been improving his acceleration and block starts, areas he previously considered weaknesses. “Together with my coach, we’ve worked a lot on my acceleration and my block starts, which have always been a setback for me.”
Inspiring the Next Generation
Away from competition, the Cameroonian also hopes to inspire future sprint stars through the his Foundation, an initiative he founded to identify and develop young African talents from an early age.
“I believe that if I am able to detect and train these athletes from the basics, from when they are still kids, in the next five to 10 years, we’re going to have Olympic champions.”
Emmanuel Eseme
According to 2023 African Games gold medalist, this initiative will give hope to the African continent, one that can break the established status quo in sprint on the world stage.
For now, however, his immediate mission remains firmly fixed on Accra and the possibility of finally standing atop the CAA African Senior Athletics Championship sprint podium, this time, with the ultimate medal.
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