Impressive Team Nigeria claim three World Relay spots in Gaborone
Nigeria have secured three berths at the 2027 World Athletics Championships in Beijing after a dominant display by a largely home-based squad at the World Relay Championship in Gaborone, Botswana.
- Mixed 4×100m also pick ticket to Budapest
Nigeria have secured three berths at the 2027 World Athletics Championships in Beijing after a dominant display by a largely home-based squad at the World Relay Championship in Gaborone, Botswana.
The Athletics Federation of Nigeria confirmed yesterday the qualifications came across three relay events — the mixed 4×100m, the women's 4×100m and the mixed 4×400m — at a packed National Stadium in Gaborone on the final day of competition.
The mixed 4×100m quartet of Favour Ashe, Obi Jennifer Chukwuka, Chidera Ezeakor, and Maria Thompson Omokwe led the charge on the opening day, clocking 40.24 seconds to win the event and set a new African record — earning Nigeria a historic first qualification in the discipline ahead of its world championship debut.
The women's 4×100m team recovered from a baton mishap on day one to clock 42.94 seconds in their final run, Nigeria's fastest since the Paris 2024 Olympics. Teenage anchor Miracle Ezechukwu was the standout performer, cementing her reputation as one of the country's brightest emerging talents.
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The mixed 4×400m team of Nathaniel Ezekiel, Taiwo Mary Kudoro, Patience Okon George and Chidi Okezie rounded off the campaign with a season's best of 3:12.88 to complete the qualification sweep.
The mixed 4×100m team's African record also earned Nigeria a place at the World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest.
Nigeria's men's and women's 4×400m teams and the men's 4×100m squad are still to contest the qualification window later this year, with the prospect of integrating established international stars — including Kanyinsola Ajayi, Israel Okon, Ushoritse Ishekiri, and 400m record-holder Samuel Ogazi — into the home-based core.
