Amusan, Ajayi, Ogazi Among Six Nigerians on Course for Budapest Ultimate Championship
With exactly one month to the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest, six Nigerian athletes are currently inside the qualification zone for the September 11-13 showdown, but their places are far from secure as the world-ranking qualification window remains open until September 1, leaving the door open for other Nigerians to break into the elite field.
The Nigerians currently inside the qualification quota are led by Tobi Amusan, who is ranked second in the women’s 100m hurdles with 1,389 points. Favour Ofili is 12th in the women’s 200m with 1,264 points, while Ella Onojuvwevwo occupies 15th in the women’s 400m with 1,270 points.
In the men’s events, Kanyinsola Ajayi is third in the 100m with 1,365 points and Samuel Ogazi is 10th in the 400m with 1,313 points. Nigeria’s ‘sixth athlete’, the 4x100m Mixed Relay, has qualified through the World Relays after finishing sixth at the National Stadium in Gaborone, Botswana, on May 3, 2026.
However, being inside the top 16 at this stage does not guarantee an invitation. The individual world-ranking qualification period runs until September 1, meaning the athletes must continue competing in the pre-championships circuit and accumulate sufficient ranking points to remain within the quota when the final rankings are established.
That situation is particularly important for Onojuvwevwo, who is currently only 15th in the women’s 400m. The Nigerian quartermiler will need to remain active and competitive in the remaining weeks if she is to retain her position or move higher.
A failure to compete, or performances that do not yield enough ranking points, could see her overtaken by athletes outside the current top 16 and potentially drop out of the qualification places.
The same applies to the other Nigerians currently inside the quota. Their positions can still change before the September 1 deadline as other athletes continue to compete and earn ranking points. The final world-ranking positions, rather than the current standings, will determine who receives invitations through the ranking route.
There are also Nigerians outside the current qualification positions who remain within striking distance. Temitope Ajayi, for example, is currently ranked 10th in the women’s high jump and could strengthen Nigeria’s representation if she maintains or improves her position during the remaining qualification period.
Udodi Onwuzurike is also close to the qualification line in the men’s 200m, sitting just two places outside the current top 16 and therefore capable of forcing his way into the field with strong performances and additional ranking points.
The qualification system allows athletes to earn invitations through several routes, including being an Olympic champion from Paris 2024, a world champion from the Tokyo 2025 World Athletics Championships, a winner of the 2026 Diamond League Final in Brussels, or by occupying a qualifying position in the world rankings at the end of the qualification period.
The Ultimate Championship is designed to bring together Olympic champions, world champions, Diamond League winners and the year’s best-performing athletes for an unprecedented three-day clash. There is no limit on how many athletes from one country can compete in an individual event, provided they meet the qualification requirements.
The championship will offer a record $10 million prize purse, with the world’s leading athletes competing in a limited-field format. The three sessions will be packed with finals, while selected events will have two eight-athlete semifinals, with only the top four from each advancing to the final. The 1500m, 5000m and relay events will be straight finals.
For Nigeria, therefore, the race for Budapest is far from over. Amusan, Ofili, Onojuvwevwo, Ajayi, Ogazi and the other current qualifiers must protect their positions, while athletes such as Ajayi and Onwuzurike remain capable of breaking into the qualifying places before the rankings are frozen.
