AFN World Athletics Relays Squad announced as Nigeria names 24 athletes for the World Athletics Relays in Gaborone, Botswana

The Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) has unveiled a 24-man squad for the forthcoming World Athletics Relays scheduled for May 2 and 3 in Gaborone, Botswana, as preparations intensify for the global qualification event.

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Nigeria World Athletics Relays Squad was released on Tuesday by the federation’s Technical Committee following the conclusion of entries for the championship, which will feature Nigeria across all six relay categories.

The selected athletes include experienced campaigners such as Patience Okon George, Blessing Ogundiran, Chidi Okezie, Emmanuel Ojeli, Enoch Adegoke and Favour Oghene-Tejiri Ashe, alongside emerging talents including Gafari Badmus, Ezekiel Eno Asuquo, Jacinta Lawrence, Toheebat Jimoh and Tejiri Godwin.

Team Nigeria will compete in the men’s and women’s 4×100m and 4×400m relays, as well as the mixed relay events, underscoring the country’s ambition to secure qualification spots and strong finishes on the global stage.

The competition will mark a historic milestone for Botswana, which is hosting a World Athletics Series event for the first time, with significant stakes attached for participating nations.

According to World Athletics, the Gaborone event serves as a key qualification pathway for the World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest as well as the 2027 World Athletics Championships in Beijing.

On the opening day, the top two teams from each heat will automatically qualify for the finals while also securing places at the 2027 World Championships, adding further intensity to the preliminary rounds.

The final day will determine medal winners and influence lane seeding for future global competitions, making performance consistency crucial across all relay categories.

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Nigeria’s full squad reflects a blend of experience and youth, with athletes spread across the men’s, women’s and mixed relay teams as the AFN targets a strong showing in Botswana.