Team Nigeria concluded their outing at the 2026 World Relays in Gaborone on a strong note, earning two additional qualification slots for the World Athletics Championships in Beijing and a place at the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest.
The team had earlier made a statement on Day One by clinching a mixed 4x100m qualification ticket with an African record performance. Although they missed out in several other events initially, the repechage rounds provided another opportunity—which they capitalised on.
In the mixed 4x400m event, the quartet of Samson Nathaniel, Mary Kudoro, Chidi Okezie, and Patience Okon-George delivered a season’s best time of 3:12.88, finishing second behind South Africa in a tightly contested race. Their performance secured Nigeria’s second qualification spot for Beijing.
The women’s 4x100m team also bounced back impressively after earlier setbacks. The team of Rosemary Nwankwo, Obi Chukwuka, Maria Thompson-Omokwe, and Miracle Ezechukwu ran a season’s best 42.94 seconds to place second behind France, sealing another ticket.
However, it was disappointment for the men’s 4x100m squad, as Favour Ashe, James Emmanuel, Tejiri Godwin, and Chidera Ezeakor finished third with a time of 38.50 seconds, missing out on qualification.
The men’s 4x400m team also narrowly missed qualification, clocking 3:01.43 but finishing behind Spain and Senegal. Meanwhile, the women’s 4x400m team did not start their repechage race.
Overall, Nigeria secured three relay qualification spots for the World Championships. Additionally, the mixed 4x100m team earned a place at the World Athletics Ultimate Championship after finishing among the top six in the final, which was won by Jamaica in a world-record time.