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GABORONE, BOTSWANA — By Prime Brief Media
Nigeria's contingent of sprinters and quarter-milers has touched down in Gaborone, Botswana, ahead of the 2026 World Athletics Relays, a championship that offers both global honours and a direct pathway to qualification for next year's World Athletics Championships.
The team arrived on Tuesday, April 28, and has already commenced light training at the Botswana National Stadium, the venue for the two-day competition set to begin on Saturday, May 2. The Athletics Federation of Nigeria confirmed that the country will field teams in all six relay events: men's 4x100 metres, women's 4x100 metres, men's 4x400 metres, women's 4x400 metres, and the mixed 4x400 metres relay.
Nigeria's full participation across all six relays is a statement of intent. Only a select group of nations have the depth to contest every relay discipline, and the AFN's decision to enter across the board reflects confidence in the current crop of athletes.
The team is headlined by several athletes with proven international pedigree. The men's 4x100m squad will be anchored by Godson Brume and Consider Ekanem, both of whom have clocked sub-10 second times this season. Udeme Okon has also been included following his impressive performances at the Nigerian Championships. In the women's sprints, Tima Godbless and Tobi Amusan are expected to lead the 4x100m relay team.
The mixed 4x400m relay will likely feature a combination of experienced campaigners and emerging talents. Patience Okon George, a veteran of multiple global championships, is expected to anchor the women's quarter-mile squad, while Sikiru Adeyemi leads the men's 4x400m team.
The World Relays in Gaborone, featuring approximately 1,200 athletes from over 70 countries, carries significant competitive stakes. In addition to prize money and world ranking points, the championship serves as the primary qualification pathway for the relay events at the 2027 World Athletics Championships. The top eight finishers in each event will secure automatic qualification, while others will have additional opportunities to qualify through time-based criteria.
Nigeria has a proud history in relay events. The men's 4x400m relay team won bronze at the 2004 Athens Olympics, while the women's 4x100m quartet claimed gold at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. The current squad will be aiming to add to that legacy on Botswanan soil.
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