AFN President Confident Nigeria’s Relay Teams Can Still Qualify for World Championships

Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) President, Tonobok Okowa, is optimistic about the country’s chances of securing spots in the relay events at the upcoming World Athletics Championships scheduled for September 13–21 in Tokyo, Japan, Sport360NG reports.

Nigeria’s relay squads missed an earlier qualification opportunity at the World Relays in China this May, due to visa complications. Their latest attempt to meet the qualifying standards came during the national trials held on Sunday in Lagos, but the teams fell short of the required times.

In the men’s 4x400m event, the Nigerian Team A, made up of Samuel Ogazi, Ezekiel Nathaniel, Gafar Badmus, and Chidi Okezie, posted a time of 3:03.68, winning comfortably but still well behind Zambia’s 2:59.12 qualifying mark.

Similarly, the men’s 4x100m team could only manage 40.05 seconds, a performance that also fell outside the automatic qualification window.

As things stand, none of Nigeria’s relay teams, men’s and women’s 4x100m, men’s and women’s 4x400m, and the mixed 4x400m, have secured qualification for Tokyo.

Still, Okowa remains hopeful.

“A number of our overseas-based athletes have already hit qualifying marks, and some are still pushing. The window remains open until August 24, and we have more opportunities coming up, including the CAA Region II Championships,” Okowa said.

“Our main objective now is to get our athletes to post qualifying times. Many of them are in good shape and are determined to make it happen.”

He added, “We have strong quarter-milers who are motivated and ready to give their all. The team is in high spirits, and there’s still a real chance for us to qualify in the relays.”

Nigeria’s athletes are expected to compete in two more qualifying events: the CAA Region II Championships in Ghana from August 15–16, and the Ghanaian National Championships from August 21–22.