Ghana’s men’s 4x100m relay team faced disappointment on Thursday when they were disqualified from the final after a changeover violation during the Paris 2024 Olympics.
The team encountered difficulties early on, with a mishap during the first baton exchange between Abdul Saminu and Benjamin Azamati putting them at a disadvantage.
Competing alongside the host nation, France, the Ghanaian team struggled with the overwhelming noise levels in the stadium.
According to Joseph-Paul Amoah, the loud atmosphere hindered their communication on the track, which affected their baton changes.
“The stadium was loud, obviously because of France,” Amoah explained to Joy Sports. “Instead of using it as an advantage, I think it broke us in a way. We struggled to hear the calls, but we did our best in the circumstances.”
Amoah emphasized that the team wasn’t nervous but found it challenging to communicate effectively due to the noise. “Going into the race, we were all calm and ready to compete but unfortunately we got disqualified,” he added.
Ranked 7th in the world, Ghana was hoping to make the final for the second time in a row and potentially secure a podium finish. However, those aspirations will have to wait for another opportunity.