Nigeria Excluded from 2025 World Athletics Relays Due to Visa Issues
Nigeria will not participate in the 2025 World Athletics Relays scheduled for Guangzhou, China, due to the denial of visas for seven US-based Nigerian athletes. The Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) confirmed this development on Thursday, May 8, through Kola Daniel, media aide to Bukola Olopade, the NSC's director general.
The Chinese consulate in Nigeria refused to issue visas to the athletes, a situation the NSC attributed to China’s strict policies toward the United States. The affected athletes, who were expected to form part of Nigeria’s relay teams, were unable to travel, effectively ruling the country out of the competition.
The NSC emphasized that the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) had adhered to all necessary procedures and deadlines for participation. Funding for the competition had already been approved in February and March, and in April, the AFN announced an 18-athlete squad for the event. This team included star hurdler and world record holder Tobi Amusan, who was expected to compete in the women’s 4x100m relay.
Nigeria’s team was set to compete in four relay events: the men’s and women’s 4x100m, as well as the mixed 4x100m and 4x400m. These events are crucial as they serve as a qualifier for the World Athletics Championships in Japan later this year, with the top 14 teams in each event securing automatic qualification.
In response to the situation, the AFN has submitted a petition to World Athletics, requesting that Nigeria be granted a special exemption to qualify for the World Championships due to the exceptional circumstances surrounding their absence.
This incident highlights ongoing challenges Nigerian athletes face in securing visas for international competitions. Earlier this year, Olympic bronze medalist Ese Brume was denied a visa to China, preventing her from competing in the Shanghai Diamond League. Her coach, Kayode Yahaya, expressed confusion over the denial, stating, “I don’t really know why they refused to give us visa this time. Last year, they did not waste time before giving us the visa to attend the Diamond League in China. We were shocked when they handed our passport to us without visa.”
The AFN continues to advocate for Nigerian athletes, seeking solutions to visa issues to ensure their participation in international competitions.
