RismadarVoice Reporters, May 4, 2026
Team Nigeria has secured additional qualification slots for the 2027 World Athletics Championships in Beijing after an impressive outing at the World Relays Championships in Gaborone, Botswana.
The development was disclosed in a statement issued on May 3, 2026, by the Chairman of the Media Committee of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), Maxwell Kumoye.
Competing at the National Stadium in Gaborone, the Nigerian team largely composed of home-based athletes delivered strong performances in the women’s 4x100m and mixed 4x400m relays on the final day, earning two more tickets to the global event.
The achievement capped a remarkable campaign for the youthful squad, which competed without several internationally based stars. Their performance highlighted the growing depth and quality within Nigeria’s domestic athletics system.
Nigeria had earlier set the tone on the opening day of the competition when the mixed 4x100m relay team of Favour Ashe, Obi Jennifer Chukwuka, Chidera Ezeakor, and Maria Thompson Omokwe produced a historic run. The quartet clocked 40.24 seconds to win the event and set a new African record, securing the country’s first-ever qualification in the discipline ahead of its debut at the World Championships.
On the final day, the mixed 4x400m team comprising Chidi Okezie, Nathaniel Ezekiel, Taiwo Mary Kudoro, and Patience Okon George delivered a composed performance, finishing with a season’s best time of 3:12.88 to seal qualification.
The women’s 4x100m team also recovered from an earlier setback after a baton error on day one, returning to clock 42.94 seconds Nigeria’s fastest time since the Paris 2024 Olympics. Teenage anchor Miracle Ezechukwu delivered a standout finish, underlining her emergence as one of the country’s rising talents.
Nigeria’s success in Gaborone has renewed focus on grassroots development and the importance of investing in local competitions, with many of the athletes emerging from the domestic circuit.
Further qualification opportunities remain, with the men’s and women’s 4x400m teams, as well as the men’s 4x100m squad, still in contention as the qualification window continues later this year.
Attention is also building around potential relay combinations that could see home-based athletes team up with established stars such as Favour Ashe, Kanyinsola Ajayi, Israel Okon, and Ushoritse Ishekiri. Emerging 400m runner Samuel Ogazi, who recently set a new national record, is also expected to play a key role in upcoming competitions.
In addition, Nigeria’s mixed 4x100m relay team has qualified for the World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest, where they will compete against some of the world’s best.
Team Nigeria leaves Gaborone with renewed confidence, reinforcing the message that the country’s athletics future is not only abroad but also thriving within its domestic system.
