Nigeria Pulls Out from World Relay Championships, Seeks Compensation Over Visa Delays

The Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) has announced its decision to withdraw Team Nigeria from the 2025 World Relay Championships in Guangzhou, China, citing unacceptable delays in the issuance of visas by Chinese embassies.

The AFN will now seek financial compensation for the withdrawal, which was forced by the unexplained and unreasonable delays.

In a statement released on Friday, the AFN expressed its deep disappointment and frustration with the situation, stating that the visas were finally issued on the day of the team’s scheduled arrival, making it impossible for them to participate in the competition.

The statement read: “With deep regret, we have withdrawn Team Nigeria from the 2025 World Relays in Guangzhou, China, despite visas finally being issued today, far too late for meaningful participation in the competition.”

The AFN blamed the Chinese authorities for imposing requirements that exceeded international norms, placing an undue burden on Nigerian nationals.

Despite submitting passport applications well in advance at Chinese embassies in Washington D.C., Berlin, and Abuja, the delays were inexplicable and inexcusable.

The criteria for a “Verification Letter of Invitation” were inconsistently applied and poorly explained, with local organizing officials themselves unsure of the procedures.

The AFN noted that after all documents were deemed complete, Chinese authorities held the applications for several days, eventually issuing visas only on the day of the team’s scheduled arrival.

This lack of transparency and efficiency has resulted in Nigeria’s withdrawal from the championships, and the AFN will now pursue compensation for the financial losses incurred as a result of the delay.

The incident has raised concerns about the treatment of Nigerian athletes and officials by Chinese authorities and the need for more efficient and transparent visa processing procedures.