In a stunning blow to Nigerian athletics, Team Nigeria will not compete in any relay events at the ongoing 2025 World Athletics Championships here, marking the first time in over four decades the country has been absent from these disciplines at the global showpiece.
The absence stems from a series of administrative failures by the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), including visa denials, poor planning, and allegations of sidelining qualified athletes in favor of officials.
The championships, running from September 13 to 21 at the National Stadium in Tokyo, feature 15 Nigerian athletes in individual events, including stars like world-record holder Tobi Amusan in the 100m hurdles and Favour Ofili in the 200m.
However, the relay squads—traditionally a Nigerian stronghold—have been conspicuously omitted due to missed qualification opportunities and logistical nightmares.
The saga began in May when Nigeria withdrew from the World Athletics Relays in Guangzhou, China, a key qualifier for Tokyo.
The AFN accused Chinese authorities of delaying visas until the last minute, rendering travel impossible despite early submissions.
AFN President Tonobok Okowa decried the "gross administrative incompetence or deliberate exclusion," vowing to seek compensation from World Athletics.
The Chinese Embassy countered that the AFN failed to meet processing timelines, issuing visas on May 8 after receiving documents just two days prior, and highlighted that some athletes and officials had secured entry earlier.
Compounding the issue, Nigeria's relay teams faltered in subsequent qualification attempts. At the African Region 2 Championships in Accra, Ghana, in August, both the men's and women's 4x100m and 4x400m squads secured golds but clocked times well below the required standards—such as 3:03.66 for the men's 4x400m against a 2:59.12 benchmark.
Earlier national trials in Lagos in July also yielded subpar results, dashing hopes despite a last-ditch AFN/Dynamic Athletics Meet aimed at boosting performances.
The qualification window closed on August 24, leaving no path for redemption.Adding to the pre-championship woes, Amusan used a Snapchat video to lambast the AFN and government over "inferior kits" distributed to athletes—flimsy nylon bags lacking essentials like singlets—questioning why talents should remain loyal to Nigeria amid such neglect.
"Abeg, which country dey find athletes?" she vented, echoing broader frustrations over funding shortfalls that nearly derailed the Accra trip.
Sports Minister Jamila Bio and National Sports Commission Director-General Bukola Olopade have urged the AFN to address these lapses, with calls for an independent probe into the relay debacle.
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