Team Nigeria has pulled out of the 2025 World Athletics Relays after both the athletes and officials were denied visas by the Chinese embassy in Abuja, dashing the country’s hopes of competing for qualification spots at the World Championships.
The Nigerian contingent was scheduled to participate in four events: the men’s 4x100m, women’s 4x100m, mixed 4x100m, and mixed 4x400m relays.
The World Relays, which is taking place in Nassau, Bahamas, serve as a crucial qualification pathway for the 2025 World Athletics Championships later this year in Tokyo, Japan but Team Nigeria’s hope of participating in the championship has been dashed following the Chinese embassy refusal to grant the team visas to attend the event.
According to sources within the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), the team had completed all necessary documentations and preparations for the trip but was unexpectedly denied entry visas despite early application.
The reason for the denial remains unclear, but the setback has raised concerns over diplomatic and logistical challenges faced by African teams in global sporting events.
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This development is a heavy blow to Nigeria’s relay teams, which have shown promise in recent years.
With Olympic qualification also tied to performances at the World Relays, missing the event could have ripple effects on the country’s representation on the global athletics stage.
Athletics enthusiasts and officials have expressed disappointment over the incident with an official of the AFN who pleaded anonymity saying: “It’s heart-breaking. These athletes have trained for months, and this was a major opportunity to secure their place at the World Championships.”
The World Athletics governing body had not issued a statement regarding Nigeria’s situation, though calls are mounting for the organization to address visa-related hurdles that disproportionately affect African nations.
This is not the first time Nigerian athletes have faced travel restrictions to major competitions, but the timing and importance of this event make it particularly devastating.