Nigeria Arrives in Botswana for World Relay Championships

Team Nigeria's men's and women's relay teams arrived in Gaborone, Botswana, last night ahead of the World Athletics Relay Championships scheduled for May 2-3. The Nigerian contingent consists of 24 athletes who flew via Ethiopian Airlines, with a scheduled stopover in Addis Ababa.

Gabriel Okon, the Technical Director of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), expressed high hopes that the six relay teams from Nigeria will secure qualification spots for the World Athletics Championship in Beijing in 2027. An advanced party led by AFN Secretary Israel Inwang had arrived in Botswana earlier on Sunday.

This year's World Relay Championships carry significant implications for qualification pathways to the World Athletics Championship in Beijing 2027. A total of 723 athletes from 40 countries are registered for the event, highlighting the scale of the competition.

Team USA, among the early arrivals, is expected to defend its title as reigning relay champions from 2025, setting the stage for a high-intensity showdown. Nigeria aims to deliver strong relay performances to secure valuable tickets to the next level of global athletic competition.