Nigerian sprinter, Kayinsola Ajayi, has been handed a place in the men’s 100m at the Wanda Diamond League Final in Brussels, Belgium, on Saturday.
The 21-year-old Nigerian record holder did not secure automatic qualification through the Diamond League points standings but will compete after being granted a global wildcard based on his world ranking.
The prestigious final is scheduled to take place at the Allianz Memorial Van Damme in Brussels.
Under Diamond League regulations, organisers are permitted to invite up to four global wildcard athletes, two men and two women — to the final.
“A global wild card athlete must have competed in at least one Diamond League meeting in the course of the season, and must fulfil at least one of the following criteria in their chosen discipline: World record holder, reigning world, Olympic or Diamond League champion, top five in the World Athletics rankings of their event, top 20 in the overall World Athletics rankings,” the rules state.
Ajayi qualifies under the ranking criteria, having posted the fourth-fastest 100m time in the world this year. Only Olympic champion Noah Lyles, world champion Oblique Seville and Commonwealth Games champion Emmanuel Eseme rank ahead of him.
The Nigerian has enjoyed an impressive Diamond League campaign, claiming victories in London and at the Prefontaine Classic.
However, his participation in Brussels initially appeared uncertain because Belgium’s Simon Verherstraeten had been included in the 100m field as a national wildcard.
The regulations stipulate that “No competition which already contains a national wild card athlete can also contain a global wild card athlete.”
Ajayi can now compete following the withdrawal of African record holder Ferdinand Omanyala, which opened a place in the field.
Victory in Brussels would see Ajayi crowned Diamond League champion and presented with the Diamond Trophy, although he would not be entitled to the full prize money.
The sprinter has broken new ground this season, setting a Nigerian 100m record of 9.84 seconds at the 2026 NCAA Division I East First Round in the United States in May.
His performance erased Olusoji Fasuba’s 20-year-old national record of 9.85 seconds.
Ajayi subsequently won the NCAA title before adding a bronze medal in the 100m at the Commonwealth Games.
He also continued his consistency in the event on Sunday, clocking his 15th sub-10-second time of his career in Switzerland.
