Nigeria’s absence from the World Athletics Relays in Guangzhou, China, has cast a shadow over their participation in the relay events at the upcoming World Athletics Championships in Tokyo. The team’s failure to secure visas in time, a recurring issue that also hampered their representation at the World Indoor Championships earlier this year, cost them a crucial opportunity to qualify directly for the Tokyo relays. The Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) cited visa processing delays as the reason for their withdrawal, while the Chinese Embassy countered with claims that the AFN misrepresented the timeline. This public disagreement further complicated the situation and left Nigeria scrambling for alternative qualification routes. Despite the setback, hope remains for Nigerian relay teams to compete in Tokyo.
The Director General of the National Sports Commission, Bukola Olopade, has outlined a plan to salvage Nigeria’s chances. Recognizing the urgency of the situation, Olopade proposed hosting a relay championship in conjunction with the African U-20 Championships scheduled for Abeokuta, Ogun State, in July. This strategic move aims to provide Nigerian athletes with a platform to achieve qualifying times for the World Championships. By inviting other nations that also missed the World Relays, particularly those vying for the remaining two slots in each relay category, Nigeria hopes to create a competitive environment that pushes their athletes to perform at their best. This proposed championship offers a lifeline for Nigeria’s relay aspirations, offering a second chance to secure their place on the world stage.
Currently, 14 of the 16 slots for each relay discipline at the World Championships have been filled through performances at the World Relays. This leaves only two spots per category open for qualification through top list times achieved during the designated period, which extends from February 25, 2024, to August 24, 2025. This tight window puts immense pressure on Nigeria to organize and execute the proposed relay championship effectively. The success of this plan hinges on securing participation from other competitive nations, ensuring the meet meets World Athletics certification standards for qualifying times, and, most importantly, the performance of the Nigerian athletes themselves.
The qualified nations for the women’s 4x100m relay include powerhouses like the United States, Jamaica, Great Britain & Northern Ireland, and several European contenders such as Germany, France, and Italy. The men’s 4x100m relay features a similar blend of traditional sprint powerhouses and emerging nations, with the United States, Canada, Great Britain & Northern Ireland, and South Africa among the confirmed participants. These established teams present formidable competition for any nation trying to secure a remaining qualifying spot.
In the 4x400m relays, both men’s and women’s, the United States, Great Britain & Northern Ireland, and several European countries have already secured their places. These longer relays often showcase a wider range of competitive nations, offering perhaps a slightly less crowded field for Nigeria to target. The mixed 4x400m relay, a relatively new addition to the World Championships program, also features a mix of established and emerging nations, presenting another potential avenue for Nigeria to qualify.
Nigeria faces a challenging but not insurmountable task. Securing one of the two remaining spots in any of the relay disciplines will require a concerted effort from the AFN, the National Sports Commission, and the athletes themselves. The proposed relay championship in July presents a crucial opportunity, but its success depends on careful planning, execution, and ultimately, the athletes delivering top performances under pressure. The world stage awaits, and Nigeria is determined to find its way back into contention. The clock is ticking, and the pressure is on for Nigerian athletes to prove their mettle and secure their rightful place in Tokyo.
