Team Nigeria Stay Back in Botswana to Chase More World Relays Slots
Team Nigeria will remain in Gaborone, Botswana, to participate in the Botswana National Trials next week as they continue their push to secure additional qualifications for the 2026 World Relays Championships.
The decision, approved by the National Sports Commission (NSC), comes after Nigeria consolidated one shaky qualification and picked up another at the Lefika International Relays held on Saturday, March 28.
At Lefika, the mixed 4x100m relay team of Chidera Ezeakor, Maria Thompson, James Taiwo and Jennifer Obi produced a stunning run of 41.45 seconds to move from 21st to 12th in the quaification rankings, securing their place at the World Relays.
The men’s 4x400m squad of Sikiru Adeyemi, Nathaniel Samson, Victor Samson Ime and Emmanuel Ojeli also booked their ticket with a time of 3:02.98.
With three squads now qualified out of six possible events, the NSC has backed the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) to keep unqualified teams in Botswana for another opportunity.
AFN President Chief Tonobok Okowa explained that some squads missed out at Lefika due to fatigue, but the extra time and rest before the Botswana National Trials could make the difference.
Okowa praised the NSC’s swift approval of the request, noting that the Commission’s support under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has been unprecedented.
‘We have never had it this good. The NSC doesn’t just talk, they act. The athletes staying back to fight for more slots are doing so because the Commission responded instantly to our call,’ he said.
