United States-based Chidi Okezie and veteran quartermiler, Patience Okon-George, top the list of 24 athletes picked by the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) for the 2026 World Athletics Relays billed to hold in Gaborone, Botswana on May 2 and 3.

Also on the list released by the AFN’s Technical Committee are Blessing Ogundiran, Ojeli Ifeanyi Emmanuel, Enoch Adegoke and Favour Oghene-Tejiri Ashe.

The list also includes new kids on the block such as Gafari Badmus, Asuquo Ezekiel Eno, Lawrence Jacinta, Jimoh Toheebat and Tejiri Godwin.

Conspicuously missing from the squad are world 10m hurdles record holder, Tobi Amusan and Favour Ofili, who featured in the same event last year.

While Ofili has since dumped Nigeria for Turkey, no reason was given by the AFN for Amusan’s absence from the team.

According to the AFN, Team Nigeria will compete in all the six relay categories, including 4x100m men and women, 4x400m men and women, 4×100 mixed and 4×400 mixed.

To represent Team Nigeria in the 4x100m men’s relay are Adegoke, Ashe, Emmanuel, Ezeakor and Tejire Godwin, while the 4×400m men’s squad comprises Azukwo, Badmus, Victor Ime, Samson Nathaniel, Emmanuel Ojeli and Chidi Okezie.

The 4×100m women’s squad features Jennifer Chukwuka, Rosemary Chukwuma, Miracle Ezechukwu, Rosemary Nwankwo, Blessing Ogundiran and Maria Thompson Omokwe, just as the 4×400m women’s team has Anita Enaruna, Okon-George, Jimoh, Taiwo Mary Kudoro, Jacinta Lawrence and Esther Okon.

To feature in the 4×100m mixed relay race are Enoch Adegoke, Rosemary Chukwuma, James Taiwo Emmanuel, Chidera Ezeaku, Miracle Ezechukwu and Blessing Ogundiran.

Athletes in the 4×400m mixed relay team are Sekiru Adewale Adeyemi, Anita Enaruna, Patience Okon George, Toheebat Jimoh, Emmanuel Ojeli and Chidi Okezie.