The team of Favour Ashe, Jennifer Obi, Chidera Ezeakor, and Maria Omokwe combined sharp acceleration and clean exchanges to clock an impressive 40.24 seconds during one of the heats. The run not only rewrote continental history but also placed Nigeria firmly in contention on the global stage.
Despite finishing fourth in their heat, the quartet advanced to the final after securing one of the two available non-automatic qualification slots. That result also guaranteed Nigeria a place in the mixed 4×100m relay event at the 2027 World Athletics Championships in Beijing.
The final of the event is scheduled for Sunday at 4:05 pm Nigerian time, where the newly crowned African record holders will look to further improve on their performance.
Mixed Fortunes Across Other Relay Events
While the mixed relay brought celebration, Nigeria’s overall campaign at the championships has been inconsistent across other events.
The men’s 4×100m team placed fifth in their heat, narrowly missing out on qualification, while the women’s squad suffered a more disappointing fate. A baton exchange error ended their race prematurely, with the team unable to finish.
The women’s relay group was already under pressure after late withdrawals by Rosemary Chukwuma, Blessings Ogundiran, and Anita Enaruna, which significantly weakened the lineup before competition began.
In the 4×400m relays, Nigeria showed flashes of competitiveness but fell short of qualification standards. The mixed 4×400m team finished third in its heat, while both the men’s and women’s teams placed sixth in their respective races.
Another Qualification Chance Ahead
Despite the setbacks, Nigeria still has a pathway to the World Athletics Championships. The team will compete again on Sunday in the repechage rounds, where additional qualification spots will be contested.
It remains a crucial opportunity for the athletes to convert promising performances into final tickets and restore momentum to Nigeria’s relay campaign in Gaborone.