Nigeria’s preparations for the 2026 World Relays have suffered a late blow, with US-based sprinters Rosemary Chukwuma and Blessing Ogundiran on the verge of missing the competition due to travel and eligibility complications.
The event runs from May 2 to May 3 at the Botswana National Stadium in Gaborone.
Both athletes have yet to join the Nigerian squad after issues described as beyond their control. Chukwuma’s passport reportedly arrived late from an embassy, disrupting her travel plans, while Ogundiran is still awaiting the result of her SRY gene test, part of eligibility requirements introduced by World Athletics for major competitions.
Christopher Maduewesi of Making of Champions confirmed the situation from Gaborone on Thursday.
“At the moment, both Rosemary Chukwuma and Blessing Ogundiran are out of the World Relays for Nigeria,” he posted.
“Before we try to apportion blame, it was due to circumstances beyond everyone’s control, not that the athletes didn’t want to come, or that the federation didn’t try to get them here.
“For Ogundiran, her SRY sample was just collected and won’t be ready before the start of the competition.
“While for Chukwuma, her passport was returned quite late from an embassy, which made it difficult for her to travel on time. However, it seems the AFN and NSC are making efforts to still get her to Gaborone.”
The Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) and the National Sports Commission (NSC) are said to be working to salvage Chukwuma’s participation.
With Ogundiran’s personal best of 10.98 seconds and Chukwuma’s season best of 10.95 seconds, their absence would weaken Nigeria’s women’s 4x100m and mixed 4x100m relay prospects.
In the women’s 4x100m, Nigeria will turn to Jenifer Chukwuka, Miracle Ezechukwu, Rosemary Nwankwo and Maria Omokwe.
The mixed 4x100m relay squad includes Enoch Adegoke, James Emmanuel, Chidera Ezeakor and Ezechukwu.
Nigeria’s men’s 4x400m team features Ezekiel Azukwo, Gafari Badmus, Victor Ime, Samson Nathaniel, Emmanuel Ojeli and Chidi Okezie.
The women’s 4x400m squad consists of Anita Enaruna, Patience Okon-George, Toheebat Jimoh, Taiwo Kudoro, Jecinta Lawrence and Esther Okon.
For the mixed 4x400m relay, the lineup includes Sekiru Adeyemi, Enaruna, Okon-George, Jimoh, Ojeli and Okezie.
