Naija athletes don dey prepare for one final push to qualify for di 2026 World Athletics Relays as dem go compete for United States just days before di deadline close. According to PUNCH Sports Extra report, di Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) don intensify efforts to make sure say Nigeria get representation across multiple relay events for di upcoming competition.
AFN president Tonobok Okowa talk say di federation immediate focus no be di recent World Indoor Championships wey Nigeria participation minimal, but to secure relay qualification places and prepare ahead of di Commonwealth Games for Glasgow. Okowa explain say “That [World Indoors] is not our priority now. Our priority is to try and go and qualify for World Relays and then our Glasgow preparation for the Commonwealth Games.”
Nigeria don already secure one place for women 4x400m relay top list but dem dey at risk of losing dat slot as dem don slip to 23rd position out of di 24 available qualification spots. Di quartet had initially book their place after running 3:31.14 at di MTN Champs Athletics Classics for Calabar on March 7, but as competition dey increase globally, dem must improve their time before di qualification window close.
With di qualification period wey dey run from January 1, 2025 to April 5, 2026, di upcoming competition for United States represent one decisive opportunity for Nigerian athletes to secure or improve their standings. Di AFN dey target di “Battle on the Bayou” meet at di LSU Bernie Moore Stadium for Baton Rouge, wey dem schedule for April 3 to 4, where athletes wey dey based for American colleges go compete.
Okowa indicate say di federation dey rely on foreign-based athletes, especially those for di collegiate system, to deliver di required performances. He talk say qualification criteria don become more stringent, requiring nations to rank among di top 24 globally to gain entry. “Our women just qualified in 4 by 400 relay. You know you have to be among the 24 countries now before you’ll be allowed to participate. It’s not like it used to be,” he explain.
He further talk say Nigerian athletes for United States dey specifically prepare for these races, wey go also serve as qualification attempts. “So, we still want some of our athletes in the US. They admit that they’re going to run there too to try to qualify for the relay, and if it’s possible, we’ll try to better our time. That’s it, we’ll try and qualify before the deadline.”
Di Baton Rouge event, wey feature student-athletes from institutions including Texas A&M, UCLA, and Ole Miss, offer Nigeria one strategic pathway to utilise their collegiate talent pool for pursuit of qualification times across relay disciplines. Before dat, Nigeria go also compete at di Lefika International Relays for Gaborone on March 28, one event wey dem design as both preparatory competition and early qualification opportunity ahead of di World Relays.
Nigeria go line up alongside countries such as Poland, South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, and hosts Botswana, fielding teams for men and women 4x100m and 4x400m relays, as well as di mixed 4x400m. Simultaneously, dem fit also attempt qualification at di Jos leg of di MTN Champs, providing multiple avenues for di country to secure relay slots before di deadline.
Di 2026 World Athletics Relays go take place at di Botswana National Stadium for Gaborone on May 2 to 3, wey go be di first time di competition go stage for Africa. Di AFN strategy now dey focus on using both international competitions and local events to maximize Nigeria chances for qualification.
As di deadline dey approach, all eyes dey on Nigerian athletes wey dey prepare for di US competition to deliver di required performances. Di federation don express confidence say with proper preparation and di talent wey dey available, Nigeria go secure di necessary qualifications for di World Relays.
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