Nigeria’s mixed 4x100m relay team has qualified for the 2027 World Athletics Championships in China after an impressive outing at the ongoing World Relays in Gaborone.
The quartet of Favour Ashe, Jennifer Chukwuka-Obi, Chidera Ezeakor and Maria Thompson clocked 40.24 seconds to finish fourth in Heat 1 on Saturday, delivering a performance that stood out among a highly competitive field.
Their effort shattered the previous African record in the event, marking another significant milestone for Nigerian athletics on the global stage.
Nigeria remained in strong contention for a podium finish heading into the final exchange but narrowly lost ground in a fiercely contested race that produced a new world record.
Canada claimed victory with a time of 40.07 seconds, followed by Germany in 40.15 seconds and the Netherlands in 40.20 seconds, leaving Nigeria just outside the top three.
Despite the fourth-place finish, Nigeria’s record-breaking time was enough to secure qualification for the 2027 World Championships in China.
Reacting to the performance, Director General of the National Sports Commission, Bukola Olopade, praised the athletes’ resilience, noting that their achievement reflects growing strength and determination within the team.
In other events, Nigeria’s women’s 4x400m team posted a season’s best of 3:30.71 and will compete in the repechage alongside the men’s 4x400m and men’s 4x100m teams, as the country continues its push for more qualification spots and stronger performances.
