Nigerian athletes will fly out of Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), on Wednesday, for the Bahamas, where the World Relays will hold between May 4 and 5, 2024.
Nigerian athletes will fight for five tickets to the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, as none of the nation’s relay teams—which comprise men and women, has qualified for the world’s biggest sporting party. Good outings for the teams in the Bahamas will boost the morale of the athletes ahead of the Olympics and spare the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) rushing late on for tickets to the Olympics.
It has been reported that the AFN has secured visas and flight tickets for the home-based athletes who are expected to jet out tomorrow. They will on schedule arrive in the Caribbean Island on Thursday, to join their US-based compatriots.
The Nigerian team is headlined by US-based Godson Oghenebrume and Udodi Onwuzurike in the men’s 4x100m event. The others are: Alaba Akintola, Karlington Anunagba, Consider Ekanem, Seye Ogunlewe and Israel Okon Sunday. To secure a lane at the Olympics, the team must secure a place among the best 14 finishers—which has been unachievable since 2008. For the men’s 4x400m, African Games 400m champion, Chidi Okezie, leads the list of eight quartermilers charged to qualify Nigerian since 2004 in Athens, Greece.
Ezekiel Nathaniel and his brother, Samson Nathaniel, Sikiru Adeyemi, Dubem Amene, Dubem Nwachukwu, Samuel Ogazi are the other members of the team.
Tobi Amusan and Favour Ofili—Nigeria’s 200m record holder (indoor and out), will lead the 4x100m women’s team, which also comprises Rosemary Chukwuma, Justina Eyakpobeyan, Tima Godbless, Elo Blessing and African Games double sprint medalist, Olayinka Olajide.
In the 4x400m category, African Games heroine, Omolara Ogunmakinju, tops the list of quartermilers on AFN’s list and she will be joined by Ella Onojuvwevwo, Elo Josephn and Patience Okon George.
Overall, Team Nigeria will compete for tickets in the men and women’s 4x100m, men and women, 4x400m, and the mixed 4x400m relays.
