Team Nigeria is expected to depart the country for China, to participate in the 2025 World Athletics Relays holding there, on May 5. This year’s World Athletics Relays, billed to hold at the Guangdong Olympic Stadium, China on May 10 and 11, is the last major event for the current AFN board before the federations’ elections billed for next month.
The Guardian learnt, yesterday, that the athletes, a majority of whom are taking part in various athletics meets across the United States, will depart early to enable them train together and perfect their baton exchange before the event begins on May 10.
Nigeria will feature in four events, including the 4x100m relay (men and women), 4x100m mixed and 4x400m mixed. The nation’s 4x400m relay squad, which narrowly missed out of medal zone at the Paris 2024 Olympics after stepping out of their lane, was left out of the trip to China.
World Record Holder (12.12sec) in the women’s 100m hurdles, Tobi Amusan is among those to fly Nigeria’s flag at the China. Others include Favour Ofili, Tiana Eyakpobeyan, Rosemary Chukwuma, Patience Okon-George, Omolara Ogunmakinju, Success Umukoro and Jennifer Chukwuka.
The men’s list include Udodi Onwuzurike, Favour Ashe, Usheoritse Itsekiri, Alaba Akintola, Karlington Anunagbo, Chidi Okezie, Samson Nathaniel and Emmanuel Ojeli.
The Guardian recalls that the first day at the 2024 World Relays in the Bahamas was a rollercoaster of solid performances for Team Nigeria, as Chidi Okezie led the mixed 4x400m to seal their ticket to Paris Olympics.
In The Bahamas, the quartet of Samuel Ogazi, Ella Onojuvwevwo, Okezie, and Esther Elo Joseph finished second in 3:13.79, which gave Nigeria the ticket to the last Olympic Games. Their split times were impressive as Ogazi clocked 45.69s, Onojuvwevwo in 50.45s, Okezie an outstanding 44.78s, and Joseph bringing it home in 52.87s.
Even though Samuel Ogazi will not be available for the battle of China, the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) and officials of the National Sports Commission (NSC) are optimistic that Team Nigeria will win some medals in Guangzhou.
