Ghana’s 100m national record holder ran a time of 10.08 to place second in heat one, finishing just behind Jamaica’s Kishane Thompson, who won the race with a time of 10.00s.
Cuba’s Reynaldo Espinosa grabbed the last automatic spot after placing third.
Heat one of the 100m started in controversial circumstances after Britain’s Jeremiah Azu was red carded for a false start and couldn’t participate.
Azamati, who is making his second successive appearance at the Olympics, would be seeking to make a spot in the finals as he returns later in the day to compete in the semis.
The Ghanaian sprinter who holds the national record (9.97s) would have to run past his personal best to have a chance of competing in the finals.
Samimu joins list of semi finalists
Ghanaian sprinter Abdul-Rasheed Saminu booked a semi-final spot in the 100m race of the ongoing Paris Olympic Games.
The 22-year-old sprinter placed third with an impressive time of 10.06s to grab semi-final qualification.
Nigeria’s Kayinsola Ajayi won heat five with a time of 10.02s, while Olympic Champion Lamont Jacobs, who ran 10.05s, grabbed the second spot.
Saminu joins his fellow national teammate Benjamin Azamati, who also secured qualification to the semi-finals after placing second in Heat One.
The two Ghanaian sprinters will run the semi-final later in the day and would be hoping to book a spot in the 100m finals.
Saminu is also scheduled to compete in the 200m later in the competition, while Azamati would also compete in the 4x100m for Ghana later in next week.