Nigeria into first men’s 4x400m final in 20 years, breaks first three minutes in 24 years

Nigeria men’s 4x400m relay team of Ifeanyi Ojeli, Nathaniel Ezekiel, Dubem Amene and Chidi Okezie made history Friday morning as the first Nigerian team to run in the final of the event since 2004 when the quartet of James Godday, Musa Audu, Saul Weigopwa and Enefiok Udo-Obong ran 3:00.90 to win the bronze medal in Athens, Greece.

The Nigerians started off with Ojeli, competing in his second Olympics handing over in second position to Nathaniel, the 400m hurdles semifinalist who maintained the pace before handing over to debutant, Amene who wasn’t far off before handing over to Okezie who came from fourth position after the 200m mark to finish season in an impressive 2:59.81, the country’s first sub-three minutes run at Olympics since 2000 when the quartet of Clement Chukwu, Jude Monye, Sunday Bada and Udo-Obong ran 2:58.68, an African record at the time.

Interestingly, seven of the eight finalists ran inside three minutes with only Zambia running just outside it.

Nigeria, without 400m finalist, Samuel Ogazi ran the seventh fastest time in qualifying while Botswana, led by 200m champion, Letsile Tebogo wo ran 44.23 first leg are the fastest with 2:57.76 while Great Britain, with Mathew Hudson-Smith, their 43 seconds runner second with 2:58.88 while USA, complete with their three 400m finalists, Quincy Hall, Christopher Bailey and Michael Norman are third with 2:59.15.

Nigeria first won a 4x400m relay medal in 1984 when the team comprising Innocent Egbunike, Rotimi Peters, Moses Ugbusien and Sunday Uti ran 2:59.32 to win a bronze medal.

Okezie and his team will now be hoping to win Nigeria’s fourth 4x400m relay medal at the Olympics.