<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nigeria has officially unveiled a powerful lineup for the 2025 World Athletics Relays in Guangzhou, China, with the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) confirming that the nation will compete in four of the six relay categories.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe are entering the competition with the strongest possible teams in the men\u2019s 4x100m, women\u2019s 4x100m, mixed 4x100m, and mixed 4x400m relays,\u201d said AFN President Tonobok Okowa. \u201cThis is a strategic move to secure early qualification for the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The squad features a mix of seasoned campaigners and rising stars. Leading the charge is world 100m hurdles record-holder Tobi Amusan<\/strong>, who brings her experience and poise to the women\u2019s and mixed 4x100m squads. Joining her is Favour Ashe<\/strong>, the American collegiate sensation, and Udodi Onwuzurike<\/strong>, the former U-20 World Champion, both expected to light up the track in the men\u2019s and mixed events.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe\u2019ve been working hard on baton chemistry and transitions. Everyone is hungry to deliver,\u201d said Ashe, speaking ahead of the team\u2019s final training camp.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The men\u2019s 4x100m relay squad includes Alaba Akintola<\/strong>, Karlington Anunagba<\/strong>, Olaoye Folawiyo<\/strong>, Usheoritse Itsekiri<\/strong>, Ashe, and Onwuzurike. Meanwhile, Amusan headlines a deep women\u2019s team featuring Favour Ofili<\/strong>, Rosemary Chukwuma<\/strong>, Justina Eyakpobeyan<\/strong>, Obi Jennifer Chukwuka<\/strong>, and Success Umukoro<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the mixed 4x100m, Nigeria is counting on explosive combinations: Akintola, Ashe, Ofili, Chukwuma, Onwuzurike, and Umukoro. For the mixed 4x400m, experienced hands like Chidi Okezie<\/strong>, Ifeanyi Ojeli<\/strong>, Samson Nathaniel<\/strong>, Praise Idamadudu<\/strong>, Patience Okon-George<\/strong>, and Omolara Ogunmakinju<\/strong> make up a formidable group.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Coach Gabriel Okon expressed confidence: \u201cWe\u2019ve got the depth, the experience, and the hunger. This is our time to make a statement.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Recent performances back that confidence. At the 2024 World Relays in the Bahamas, Nigeria\u2019s mixed 4x400m team smashed the African Record with a time of 3:12.87, finishing fourth and securing Olympic qualification for Paris 2024. Three other relay squads \u2014 men\u2019s 4x100m, men\u2019s 4x400m, and women\u2019s 4x100m \u2014 also booked Olympic spots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n AFN Secretary-General Rita Mosindi underscored the broader significance of the event: \u201cThis isn\u2019t just about medals \u2014 it\u2019s about momentum. These relays are crucial for early qualification and rebuilding Nigeria\u2019s relay legacy.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n As the 2025 World Relays approach, Nigeria is aiming not only for podium finishes but to reestablish its dominance on the global sprint scene.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Nigeria has officially unveiled a powerful lineup for the 2025 World Athletics Relays in Guangzhou, China, with the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) confirming that the nation will compete in four of the six relay categories. “We are entering the competition with the strongest possible teams in the men’s 4x100m, women’s 4x100m, mixed 4x100m, and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_crdt_document":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-11453","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-sports"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"brizy_media":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/youdonhear.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11453","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/youdonhear.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/youdonhear.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/youdonhear.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/youdonhear.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=11453"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/youdonhear.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11453\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11454,"href":"https:\/\/youdonhear.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11453\/revisions\/11454"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/youdonhear.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=11453"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/youdonhear.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=11453"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/youdonhear.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=11453"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}