Nigeria's Mixed 4x400m Team Misses Final at World Relays

At the 2026 World Athletics Relays held at the Botswana National Stadium, Nigeria's mixed 4x400m relay team, consisting of Samson Nathaniel, Taiwo Kudoro, Chidi Okezi, and Patience Okon, finished third in their heat with a season-best time of 3:13.12. Jamaica won the race with a time of 3:11.68, while Poland secured second place with 3:13.00, both qualifying automatically for the final.

Nigeria's performance left them just outside the top two positions required for direct advancement, necessitating a strong effort in the final leg by Okon Georg, who battled Poland's Natalia Bukowiecka down the home straight. Japan followed in fourth place with a time of 3:13.61, and Canada finished fifth at 3:14.93.

As a result, Nigeria will return to the track for the repechage round on Sunday, aiming to secure qualification for the 2027 World Championship in Beijing. The competition remains fierce, with teams from Great Britain, Northern Ireland, the United States, Kenya, and Spain posting the fastest qualifying times.