Team Nigeria Sprints Face Setback as Chukwuma and Ogundiran Risk Missing World Relays

Posted : 01 May 2026

Nigeria’s preparations for the World Athletics Relays 2026 have been hit by a significant blow following reports that top sprinters Rosemary Chukwuma and Blessing Ogundiran may miss the event. The competition is scheduled to hold at the Botswana National Stadium in Gaborone from May 2 to May 3, 2026. Both athletes are currently based in the United States and have faced unforeseen logistical and administrative hurdles.

Rosemary Chukwuma, who holds a season’s best of 10.95 seconds, was delayed by the late return of her passport from an embassy. This administrative bottleneck made it nearly impossible for her to secure travel arrangements to Southern Africa in time for the opening heats. While the Athletic Federation of Nigeria (AFN) and the National Sports Commission (NSC) are reportedly making last-minute efforts to fly her in, her participation remains highly uncertain.

Blessing Ogundiran faces a different challenge involving mandatory eligibility requirements. She is currently awaiting the results of an SRY gene test, which is a requirement under World Athletics regulations for biological sex verification. Because her sample was collected recently, the results will not be processed before the competition commences on Saturday.

The potential absence of these two athletes weakens Nigeria’s prospects in the women’s 4x100m and the mixed 4x100m relay events. Chukwuma and Ogundiran were expected to provide the veteran experience and speed necessary to secure Olympic qualification slots. The coaching staff must now pivot to a younger roster to fill the void left by the US-based duo.

In the women’s 4x100m, the responsibility now falls on Jenifer Chukwuka, Miracle Ezechukwu, Rosemary Nwankwo, and Maria Omokwe. The mixed relay pool will rely on the likes of Enoch Adegoke and Chidera Ezeakor to maintain a competitive edge. Despite the setbacks, the AFN remains optimistic that the available athletes can deliver a strong performance in Gaborone.

The men’s 4x400m squad remains intact with Samson Nathaniel, Emmanuel Ojeli, and Chidi Okezie leading the charge. Similarly, the women's 4x400m team will feature veteran Patience Okon-George alongside Toheebat Jimoh and Esther Okon. Team Nigeria aims to finish within the top 14 in each category to guarantee automatic spots for the upcoming global championships.

Team Nigeria Sprints Face Setback as Chukwuma and Ogundiran Risk Missing World Relays

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