Nigeria gets very fair draw in men’s 4x400m semifinals, primed for first Olympics final in 20 years

With Samuel Ogazi leading, Nigeria’s men’s 4x400m relay team should be one of the three automatic qualifiers from the second semifinal to qualify for the final of the event at the Paris 2024 Olympics.

The Nigerians have been drawn in what can be considered a fair draw albeit they will need individual 400m finalist, Ogazi to play a huge role in driving the team to its first final since 2004 when they won a bronze medal in Athens, Greece.

The team is capable of breaking three minutes at the Olympics for the first time since the team ran 2:58.68 to win gold at the 2000 in Sydney, Australia.

Nigeria has been drawn against two nations who have broken three minutes this season and three others who have run faster than the country, but the Ogazi factor can make the difference.

South Africa, 2:59.76, and Belgium, 2:59.84, are the two nations who have broken three minutes this year with the South Africans having three athletes who have broken 45 seconds this year and another just outside 44 seconds while the Belgians, like Nigeria, have two athletes who have ran inside 45 seconds.

Host nation, France (3:00.77SB), Italy (3:00.81SB) and Spain (3:01.44SB) will also battle Nigeria for the automatic tickets on offer.

The Nigerians hold a personal season’s best of 3:01.70, their fastest time in recent memory.