Team Nigeria’s camp for the World Relays Championship holding in Gaborone, Botswana, opens today in Lagos.
The Technical Director of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), Gabriel Okon is expected to oversee the camping program that will last for a week.
The foreign based athletes will join the team in Gaborone.
The World Relays Championship holds on May 2-3, 2026.
Meanwhile, it was a weekend of strong statements and sharpened intent as Africa’s finest lit up the track at the Addis Ababa Grand Prix, with several stars building momentum ahead of upcoming meets in Gaborone and Accra.
In the men’s 110m hurdles, Anthony Edward Jr stormed to victory in 13.61 seconds, fending off a spirited challenge from Yusuf Badawi, who clocked 13.76.
Nigeria’s Musa Wisdom settled for third in 14.34, a performance that still keeps him in contention heading into the next leg of competition.
The women’s 400m delivered one of the standout performances of the meet, with Femi Adekoya blazing to a winning time of 50.28 seconds. Mercy Chebet followed in 51.38, while Nigeria’s veteran Patience Okon George crossed in 51.70 to claim third, showing experience and consistency on the continental stage.
In the men’s 400m, Botswana’s Justice Oratile stole the spotlight with an impressive 44.92 finish, holding off Ruathdel Nhial Gnange (45.53). Nigeria’s Nathaniel Samson clocked 45.89 to round out the podium in a tightly contested race.
The men’s 200m brought more fireworks, as Kenya’s Samuel Chege Waweru surged to victory in 20.63 seconds.
Fellow Kenyan Zablon Ekwam secured second in 20.85, while Nigeria’s Chidi Okezie claimed third in 20.92 after a strong finish.
Off the track, Nigeria also had a strong presence in the stands, as Chief Tonobok Okowa, President of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria, attended the event as a special guest of the Ethiopian Athletics Federation.
His presence underlined growing collaboration across African athletics.
In a major boost for the sport on the continent, World Athletics has also confirmed that Ethiopia will host a Gold Label Grand Prix in 2027, a move expected to further elevate the country’s status as a premier destination for elite track and field competition.
With the Addis Ababa outing now in the books, attention shifts to Gaborone and Accra, where these athletes will look to build on their form.
For the Nigerian contingent, the performances offered both promise and a clear signal, they are in the mix, and the season is heating up at just the right time.
