Team Nigeria produced an impressive outing at the Lefika International Relays in Gaborone, Botswana, claiming victories in key events and boosting their chances of qualifying for the upcoming World Athletics Relays.
The highlight of the competition came in the mixed 4x100m relay, where the Nigerian quartet delivered a historic performance. The team of Chidera Ezeakor, Maria Omokwe, James Emmanuel, and Jennifer Chukwuka stormed to victory in a record time of 41.44 seconds, setting a new African benchmark in the event. Their effort not only secured gold but also marked a significant milestone in the newly introduced discipline.
That performance had a major impact on Nigeria’s global standing, as the team surged into the top 24 qualification bracket, strengthening their hopes of making the World Relays cut.
Nigeria continued their strong showing in the men’s 4x100m relay, clinching another victory with a season’s best time of 38.98 seconds. The quartet of Enoch Adegoke, Chidera Ezeakor, Godwin Tejiri, and Emmanuel James executed clean baton exchanges and maintained composure to finish ahead of the field.
In the men’s 4x400m relay, Nigeria also recorded a notable performance, finishing third with a season’s best of 3:02.98. The team, made up of Samson Nathaniel, Emmanuel Ojeli, Victor Sampson, and Sikiru Adeyemi, delivered a strong run that further improved their position on the qualification rankings.
However, it was not all smooth sailing for Team Nigeria. The mixed 4x400m relay team fell short of qualification expectations after posting a time of 3:16.33, leaving their chances in that event uncertain as the qualification window draws to a close.
The results in Gaborone form part of Nigeria’s broader push to secure places at the World Athletics Relays, where only the top-ranked teams globally will qualify. With the deadline fast approaching, Nigeria is expected to make a final attempt to improve their standings in upcoming meets in the United States.
Overall, the performances in Botswana have significantly strengthened Nigeria’s qualification prospects, with the Athletics Federation of Nigeria optimistic about securing multiple relay slots on the global stage.
