United States-based Nigerian sprinters, Udodi Onwuzurike, Alaba Akintola and Chidi Okezie, as well as the home-based members of the contingent, are expected to arrive in the Bahamas today for the two-day World Relays, which begins on Saturday.
Nigeria is seeking to use the World Relays to qualify for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, as none of the country’s teams (men and women) has qualified for the Games.
The home-based athletes secured their American visas and flight tickets arranged by the sports ministry on Monday, and are expected to arrive for the event today.
Team Nigeria will compete for all five relay tickets. These are the men and women’s 4x100m, 4x400m and the mixed 4x400m. Among the athletics in Team Nigeria’s squad for the event are the World Record holder in the women’s 100m hurdles, Tobi Amusan, U.S.-based speed star, Onwuzurike, Akintola, Karlingthon Anunagba, Consider Ekanem, Seye Ogunlewe and Israel Okon Sunday.
Udodi’s father and coach, Chris Onwuzurike, told The Guardian, yesterday, that the sprinter was in good shape and ready to do Nigeria proud in Bahamas.
“Udodi is doing well and he will arrive in the Bahamas on Thursday (today),” the father said. Also speaking on the World Relays, U.S.-based Alaba Akintola said: “We are good to go.”
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 Nathaniel, Dubem Nwanchukwu, Samuel Ogazi and Ifeanyi Ojeli.
Also in the squad are Rosemary Chukwuma, Justina Eyakpobeyan, Tima Godbless,and Olayinka Olajide. Ella Onojuvwevwo, Elo Joseph and Patience Okon George will battle in the 4x400m team.
To give Team Nigerian enough motivation at the World Relays, the chief executive officer of Nilayo Sports Management, Bukola Olopade, and some other top Nigerian track and field followers have arrived on the Caribbean Island.
Speaking with The Guardian on arrival on the Caribbean Island, Olopade, who is the chief marketing consultant to the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), said that their presence in the Bahamas would help boost the morale of the athletes.
“The athletes need our support to do well at the World Relays,” Olopade said. Some home-based athletes departed Abuja yesterday and will arrive in the Bahamas today for the event, where they will battle for five relay tickets to the Paris Olympics Games.
The World Relays in Bahamas, which will hold on Saturday and Sunday, will serve as the main Olympic qualifying event for the relays with the first 14 countries automatically qualifying for the relay events at the Games.
