Nigerian athletes will depart Abuja tomorrow and arrive in Bahamas on May 2 for the 2024 World Relays, where they will battle for five tickets to the Paris Olympic Games. The World Relays will hold on May 4 and 5.
None of Nigeria’s relay teams (men and women) has qualified for the Paris Olympics, and the AFN is hoping to use the event in the Caribbean Island to secure the tickets to avoid last minute rush, which could cost the nation more money and also affect the morale of the athletes.
The Guardian learnt, yesterday, that the AFN has been able to secure American visas and flight tickets for the home-based athletes, who are expected to jet out tomorrow and arrive in the Caribbean Island on Thursday to join some U.S.-based athletes in the relay battle.
Team Nigeria will compete for tickets in the men and women’s 4x100m, men and women 4x400m, and the mixed 4x400m relays.
U.S.-based speed star, Godson Oghenebrume and Udodi Onwuzurike head the list of eight sprinters listed to compete for Nigeria in the men’s 4x100m event. Others are Alaba Akintola, Karlingthon Anunagba, Consider Ekanem, Seye Ogunlewe and Israel Okon Sunday.
The team will strive to be among the best 14 finishers to secure a lane in Paris for the first time since 2008. For the men’s 4x400m, African Games 400m champion, Chidi Okezie headlines the list of eight quartermilers listed to return Nigeria to the Games since Athens 2004.
Others listed are Sikiru Adeyemi, Dubem Amene, Ezekiel Nathaniel and his brother, Samson Nathniel, Dubem Nwachukwu, Samuel Ogazi who has been improving since his switch to University of Alabama and holds the Nigerian U-18 record and Ifeanyi Ojeli.
Women sprint hurdler, Tobi Amusan and Favour Ofili, Nigeria’s 200m record holder (indoors and out) will lead the 4x100m team that will also comprise Rosemary Chukwuma, Justina Eyakpobeyan, Tima Godbless, Elo Blessing and African Games double sprint medalist, Olayinka Olajide.
For the 4x400m, African Games hero, Omolara Ogunmakinju tops the list of quartermilers listed by the AFN. She will be joined by the three other women, Ella Onojuvwevwo, Elo Joseph and Patience Okon George.
The World relays will serve as the main Olympic qualifying event for the relays with the first 14 placed countries automatically qualifying for the relay events at the Games.
