Nigeria Faces World Relays Without Star Athletes Due to U.S. Collegiate Commitments

Nigeria’s bid to secure tickets to the World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest this summer and the 2027 World Athletics Championships in Beijing has been dealt a blow, as several of the nation’s top athletes will miss the World Relays in Gaborone, Botswana.

The clash of dates between the World Relays (May 2-3) and collegiate meets in the United States has forced key Nigerian stars to prioritize their university commitments.

Among them is Ella Onojuvwevwo, the fastest woman over 400m indoors this year and currently leading outdoors (49.59).

She will compete at the LSU Invitational in Baton Rouge on May 2, the opening day of the World Relays.

Also expected to be absent is Samuel Ogazi, who stunned the athletics world with a 44.57 indoor run to set a new African record and win NCAA indoor gold.

Ogazi will be in action at the University of Georgia Invite on the same day.

Sprinters Kanyinsola Ajayi and Israel Okon, both crucial to Nigeria’s mixed 4x100m relay hopes, are expected to miss out as well, competing instead at the Torrin Lawrence Memorial in the U.S.

Nigeria will contest three of the six relay events in Gaborone: the women’s 4x400m, men’s 4x400m, and the mixed 4x100m. The team is aiming to be among the six qualifiers in the mixed relay for Budapest 2026, while 12 teams in each event will secure places for Beijing 2027.

The absence of many U.S.-based student athletes, bound by scholarship obligations, alongside discontent among established stars over inadequate training grants from the federation, has further weakened Nigeria’s lineup.

On day one in Botswana, eight teams in each relay will qualify directly for Beijing through the first round, before contesting finals for titles and prize money. Day two will see another four teams per event qualify for Beijing, while six teams in each mixed relay will book their places for Budapest.