Nigeria will not compete in the 2025 World Athletics Relays in Guangzhou, China, after seven US-based athletes were denied visas. The National Sports Commission (NSC) confirmed the development on Thursday, May 8, through Kola Daniel, media aide to NSC Director General Bukola Olopade.
According to the NSC, the Chinese consulate in Nigeria refused to grant visas to the athletes, citing China’s restrictive policies toward the United States. The affected athletes were key members of Nigeria’s relay teams, making the country’s participation impossible.
The Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) had completed all required preparations, with travel funding reportedly approved months in advance. In April, an 18-athlete squad was announced, including world record holder Tobi Amusan, who was set to compete in the women’s 4x100m relay.
Nigeria was scheduled to participate in four events — men’s and women’s 4x100m, mixed 4x100m, and mixed 4x400m. The relays serve as qualifiers for the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Japan, with the top 14 teams in each event earning automatic entry.
In response, the AFN has submitted a formal appeal to World Athletics, requesting a special qualification slot due to the exceptional visa-related setback.