Nigeria’s quest for a dominant showing at the 2026 World Athletics Relays received a massive boost this week following a series of record-breaking performances at the Lefika International Relays in Gaborone.

The outing proved highly successful for the contingent, with two additional relay teams officially punching their tickets for the global showpiece scheduled to take place at this same venue in May.

The standout moment of the weekend belonged to the Mixed 4x100m relay team. The quartet, comprising Chidera Ezeakor, Maria Omokwe, James Emmanuel, and Jennifer Chukwuka, delivered a flawless performance to win their heat in a blistering 41.45 seconds.

The time not only secured a gold medal but also set a new African Record for the event. This result catapulted Nigeria from 21st to 12th in the global rankings, firmly placing them within the top 24 nations required for World Relays qualification.

Not to be outdone, the Men’s 4x400m team also secured their spot in the World Relays. The team of Sikiru Adeyemi, Nathaniel Samson, Victor Samson, and Emmanuel Ojeli clocked a time of 3:02.98 to finish first. Their performance successfully met the qualification standard, adding another vital category to Nigeria’s roster for May.

With these recent successes, Nigeria has now secured qualification in four of the six major relay events:

Women’s 4x100m (Previously qualified)

Women’s 4x400m (Qualified via MTN CHAMPS Calabar)

Mixed 4x100m (Qualified in Botswana; New African Record)

Men’s 4x400m (Qualified in Botswana)

“The team is in high spirits,” said Maxwell Kumoye, Chairman of the AFN Media Committee. “The objective now is to use the upcoming Botswana National Trials to refine our baton exchanges and potentially secure slots for the remaining two categories.”

The Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) isn’t slowing down. A 15-athlete contingent remains in Gaborone to compete in the Botswana National Trials (April 3–5). The technical team, led by Director Gabriel Okon, is focused on securing tickets for the Men’s 4x100m and the Mixed 4x400m teams to ensure a “full house” for the World Relays.

The National Sports Commission (NSC) has also approved additional support for the athletes, emphasizing the importance of international exposure ahead of the May championships. With the window for qualification narrowing, the next 48 hours in Botswana will be critical for Nigeria’s final relay standing.