BY SPORTS RECORDER
Team Nigeria has intensified preparations ahead of the World Athletics Relays 2026, with officials expressing confidence in a strong and competitive outing at the global event.
The Nigerian contingent, made up of 24 athletes blending youthful energy with seasoned experience, departed on Monday via Ethiopian Airlines, transiting through Addis Ababa before arriving in Gaborone, Botswana.
At the two-day championship scheduled for May 2 to May 3, Team Nigeria will compete in all six relay events, aiming not only for podium finishes but also to secure qualification spots for major global competitions.
The team is guided by a four-man coaching crew led by Gabriel Okon, Technical Director of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria. An advance delegation headed by AFN Secretary, Israel Inwang, had earlier arrived in Botswana on Sunday following the team’s official pre-departure photo session.
This year’s relays carry added weight, serving as a qualification pathway to the 2027 World Athletics Championships and the World Athletics Ultimate Championship, raising the stakes for participating nations.
The competition is expected to be fierce, with 723 athletes from 40 countries registered. All six defending champions from the 2025 edition, alongside medal-winning nations from the World Championships and Olympic Games, are set to compete.
For Nigeria, the objective remains clear, deliver strong performances and secure qualification for the next phase of international athletics.
Meanwhile, Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Sports, Paul Bassey, confirmed that four athletes from the state, Jacinta Lawrence, Esther Peter, Ezekiel Eno, and Victor Sampson, are part of the national squad. The quartet is expected to feature in the men’s and women’s 4×400 metre relay events.
Bassey expressed pride in the athletes, noting their consistent contributions to the state’s sporting success. He reiterated the government’s commitment to sustained investment in grassroots sports development through funding and structured training programmes.
“We are proud to have four of our best athletes representing Nigeria at this important championship,” he said, reaffirming the state’s backing for elite and emerging talents alike.
