Nigeria Aims to Secure Spot at World Relays with Upcoming US Competition

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Nigeria will make a final push to secure qualification for the 2026 World Athletics Relays when a group of its athletes compete in the United States just days before the deadline, as the Athletics Federation of Nigeria intensifies efforts to ensure representation across multiple relay events, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.

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The federation has shifted its immediate focus away from recent disappointments at the World Indoor Championships, where Nigeria had minimal participation, and is instead concentrating on securing relay qualification places and preparing ahead of the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

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AFN president Tonobok Okowa told PUNCH Sports Extra that the federation’s immediate focus is on securing qualification for the World Relays and preparing for the upcoming Commonwealth Games.

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“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.”

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Nigeria have already secured a place in the women’s 4x400m relay top list but remain at risk of losing that slot, having slipped to 23rd position out of the 24 available qualification spots.

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The quartet had initially booked their place after running 3:31.14 at the MTN Champs Athletics Classics in Calabar on March 7, but growing competition globally means they must improve their time before the qualification window closes.

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With the qualification period running from January 1, 2025 to April 5, 2026, the upcoming competition in the United States represents a decisive opportunity for Nigerian athletes to secure or improve their standings.

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The AFN is targeting the “Battle on the Bayou” meet at the LSU Bernie Moore Stadium in Baton Rouge, scheduled for April 3 to 4, where athletes based in American colleges are expected to compete.

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Okowa indicated that the federation is relying on its foreign-based athletes, particularly those in the collegiate system, to deliver the required performances.

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He noted that qualification criteria have become more stringent, requiring nations to rank among the top 24 globally to gain entry.

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“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 said.

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He further explained that Nigerian athletes in the United States are specifically preparing for these races, which will also serve as qualification attempts.

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“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.”

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The Baton Rouge event, which features student-athletes from institutions including Texas A&M, UCLA, and Ole Miss, offers Nigeria a strategic pathway to utilise its collegiate talent pool in pursuit of qualification times across relay disciplines.

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Before that, Nigeria will also compete at the Lefika International Relays in Gaborone on March 28, an event designed as both a preparatory competition and an early qualification opportunity ahead of the World Relays.

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Nigeria will line up alongside countries such as Poland, South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, and hosts Botswana, fielding teams in the men’s and women’s 4x100m and 4x400m relays, as well as the mixed 4x400m.

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Simultaneously, can also attempt qualification at the Jos leg of the MTN Champs, providing multiple avenues for the country to secure relay slots before the deadline.

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The 2026 World Athletics Relays will take place at the Botswana National Stadium in Gaborone on May 2 to 3, which will be the first time the competition will be staged in Africa.

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