The absence of three key female athletes – Rosemary Chukwuma, Blessing Ogundiran and Anita Enaruna – at the World Relays Championship in Gaborone, Botswana has been cited as a major reason why Nigeria missed several qualification opportunities on Saturday.
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Sports247 gathered that only the mixed 4x100m quartet qualified automatically for the 2027 World Athletics Championship by reaching Sunday’s final in their event, while all five other categories will depend on alternative routes this Sunday.
Details of the development were provided by the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) media committee chairman, Maxwell Kumoye, who pointed out that being without Chukwuma, Ogundiran and Enaruna was a major set-back for the Nigerian contingent.
While hinting that all three athletes made unexpected and late withdrawals from the key competition in Gaborone, Kumoye hailed the gallant efforts of the other athletes in trying to make Nigeria proud during all their races on Saturday.
Kumoye stated in a press release, “Youthful Team Nigeria athletes, against all odds, secured their place in the final of the 4×100m mixed event at the World Relays Championship in Gaborone, Botswana. By reaching the final, Nigeria’s team has qualified for the 2027 World Athletics Championships in China.
“The quartet of Favour Ashe, Jennifer Chukwuka-Obi, Chidera Ezeakor and Maria Thompson stopped the clock at 40.24 seconds to finish as one of best placed teams. They also rewrote the African record in their custody.
“Team Nigeria, dominated by home-based althletes, missed out of four other relays qualifications for the World Championship next year (but) it’s imperative to state that three key members could not make the trip to Gaborone.
“They are Rosemary Chukwuma, Blessings Ogundiran and Anita Enaruna – who could have added some fillips to the women’s 4×100m and 4×400m, in which the team failed to secure 2027 World Championship tickets.”
Sports247 gathered further that the Nigerian athletes will again be in action on Sunday morning in the 4×100m men’s fiinal as well 4×400m men and 4×400m mixed categories, with last ditch chances of picking qualification spots in the last two.
