Amusan, Ofili spearhead Nigeria’s push for 2025 World Relays.
Nigeria Confirms Participation in Four Events at 2025 World Relays
Team Nigeria has confirmed its entry in four events at the 2025 World Athletics Relays, set to take place in Guangzhou, China, from May 10 to 11, The Punch reports.
The Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) revealed via Instagram that Nigeria will compete in the men’s 4×100m, women’s 4×100m, 4×400m mixed relay, and the newly introduced 4×100m mixed relay—four of the six relay events scheduled for the championship.
The men’s 4×100m relay team features Alaba Akintola, Udodi Onwuzurike, Favour Ashe, Karlington Anunagba, Folawiyo Olaoye, and Usheoritshe Itshekiri. For the women’s 4×100m, the team includes Rosemary Chukwuma, Success Umukoro, Tiana Eyakpobeyan, Favour Ofili, Jennifer Chukwuka Obi, and Tobi Amusan, the world record holder in the 100m hurdles.
Nigeria’s 4×400m mixed relay squad will consist of Chidi Okezie, Ifeanyin Ojeli, Samson Nathaniel, George Patience Okon, Praise Idamadudu, and Omolara Ogunmakinju. The 4×100m mixed relay lineup will be chosen from a talent pool that includes Ashe, Akintola, Onwuzurike, Chukwuma, Ofili, and Umukoro.
Nigeria secured qualification for these events through performances at designated meets, including those held at the Stade de France in Paris for the 2024 Olympics and the African Games at the University of Ghana Sports Stadium.
According to Israel Inwang Mfon, secretary of the AFN, the selection of events was strategic.
“We focused on areas where Nigeria has a competitive edge and better medal prospects,” he said.
The 2025 edition marks the seventh staging of the World Relays and the first time the event will be hosted in China, following past editions in the Bahamas, Japan, and Poland.
This year’s competition will also see the global debut of the 4×100m mixed relay—run in the order of woman-woman-man-man. While official records for this event will begin from January 1, 2026, performances in Guangzhou will set the initial benchmarks. The event is also slated for inclusion in the 2026 World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest.
Each nation may enter one team per event, with a squad of up to eight athletes eligible, from which any four may compete on race day—giving teams flexibility in strategy and lineup decisions.
