Nigeria’s campaign at the 2026 World Relays in Gaborone, Botswana, got off to a mixed start, with the women’s 4x100m team suffering a costly baton drop while the men’s 4x100m mixed relay team secured progression to the next stage.
Despite the overall inconsistency, the country recorded some encouraging performances on Saturday, particularly in the mixed relay events where qualification hopes remain alive.
The standout performance came from the Favour Ashe-led mixed 4x100m team, which clocked a season’s best of 40.24 seconds to secure qualification for the World Championships next year.
The result also keeps them in contention for a podium finish in Sunday’s final.
Canada currently leads the event with a world record time of 40.07 seconds, putting them as favourites ahead of Germany, the Netherlands, and Nigeria, who remain in the chase for an upset.
In the 4x400m mixed relay, Nigeria also produced a season’s best of 3:13.12 but fell short of qualifying for the final, leaving them to await another opportunity.
The quartet of Samson Oghenewegba Nathaniel, Taiwo Mary Kudoro, Chidi Okezie, and Patience Okon-George showed improved form, but their efforts were not enough to secure a final spot, despite a strong showing.
In contrast, disappointment struck the women’s 4x100m relay team, who dropped the baton during their race, ending their campaign abruptly and denying them any chance of progressing further in the competition.
The men’s 4x100m team also struggled to secure automatic qualification, finishing outside the required positions despite recording a season’s best time of 38.31 seconds.
Canada dominated the event with a world-leading 37.56 seconds, strengthening their status as gold medal contenders alongside Germany and South Africa.
In the women’s 4x400m relay, Nigeria finished sixth in their heat with a season’s best of 3:30.71 seconds, placing 16th overall and missing out on qualification for the final.
The men’s 4x400m team, however, managed to keep their hopes alive.
The quartet of Gafari Badmus, Ifeanyi Emmanuel Ojeli, Victor Ime, and Ezekiel Asuquo finished sixth in their heat with a season’s best of 3:01.04, enough to secure a place in the final.
Overall, Nigeria’s outing reflected both promise and setbacks, with mixed relay success offering some consolation amid relay disappointments.
