Team Nigeria strengthened their presence at the upcoming World Championships in Beijing, China, after clinching two more qualification spots on the final day of the 2026 World Athletics Relays in Gaborone, Botswana.
The country had already booked places in the mixed 4×400m and women’s 4×100m events earlier in the competition, and added to that tally with impressive performances in the closing stages.
In the mixed 4×400m event, the Nigerian quartet of Samson Nathaniel, Taiwo Kudoro, Chidi Okezie, and Patience Okon-George delivered a strong showing, finishing second with a season’s best time of 3:12.88 to seal automatic qualification.
Another ticket was secured in the women’s 4×100m, where Chigozie Rosemary, Obi Jennifer Chukwuka, Maria Thompson, and Miracle Ezechukwu clocked 42.94 seconds to place second. The team bounced back from an earlier setback caused by a faulty baton exchange, finishing just behind France in the repechage heat to qualify.
However, Nigeria fell short in the men’s 4×400m repechage, finishing third with a time of 3:01.43 and missing out on qualification.
Overall, Team Nigeria secured three out of a possible six qualification spots at the World Relays, marking a solid outing at the global event.
