Team Nigeria has officially commenced preparations for the 2026 World Relays Championship, with a week-long training camp opening in Lagos ahead of the global event scheduled for May 2–3 in Gaborone, Botswana.
The camp, which brings together some of the country’s top sprint and relay athletes, will be supervised by the Technical Director of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), Gabriel Okon. The program is designed to fine-tune baton exchanges, improve team cohesion, and sharpen race readiness as Nigeria targets strong performances on the world stage.
Squad List for Lagos Camp
Team Nigeria’s camp features a strong lineup across all relay events. In the men’s 4×100m relay, Enoch Adegoke, James Taiwo Emmanuel, Chidera Ezeakor, and Tejire Godwin have been selected.
For the men’s 4×400m relay, the squad includes Ezekiel Enoh Azukwo, Gafari Badmus, Victor Ime, Samson Nathaniel, and Emmanuel Ojeli.
The women’s 4×100m relay team is made up of Jenifer Chukwuka, Miracle Ezechukwu, Rosemary Nwankwo, and Maria Thompson Omokwe.
Meanwhile, the women’s 4×400m relay squad comprises Anita Enaruna, Patience Okon George, Toheebat Jimoh, Taiwo Mary Kudoro, Jecinta Lawrence, Esther Okon, and Sekiru Adewale Adeyemi.
Strong Showing in Addis Ababa Signals Readiness
Nigeria’s preparations come on the back of encouraging performances at the Addis Ababa Grand Prix, where several athletes delivered competitive results against top continental opposition.
In the men’s 110m hurdles, Anthony Edward Jr claimed victory in 13.61 seconds, while Nigeria’s Musa Wisdom placed third in 14.34 seconds, maintaining his competitive edge ahead of upcoming meets.
The women’s 400m featured a standout performance from Femi Adekoya, who won in 50.28 seconds. Nigeria’s Patience Okon George finished third in 51.70 seconds, demonstrating consistency and experience.
In the men’s 400m, Botswana’s Justice Oratile led the field with 44.92 seconds, with Nigeria’s Samson Nathaniel finishing third in 45.89 seconds in a tightly contested race.
The men’s 200m event also saw Nigeria represented on the podium, as Chidi Okezie secured third place in 20.92 seconds.
Ethiopia Secures 2027 Gold Label Grand Prix
Off the track, the Addis Ababa meet also delivered a significant boost for African athletics. World Athletics confirmed that Ethiopia will host a Gold Label Grand Prix in 2027, reinforcing its emergence as a major destination for elite track and field events.
The event was attended by AFN President Tonobok Okowa as a special guest of the Ethiopian Athletics Federation, reflecting growing collaboration within the continent’s athletics community.
Focus Turns to Gaborone
With the Lagos camp underway and confidence building from recent performances, attention now shifts to Gaborone and subsequent competitions in Accra.
For Team Nigeria, the objective is clear, convert promising individual performances into cohesive relay success and secure a strong presence on the global stage as the 2026 athletics season gathers momentum.
