In the men’s 4x100m, Nigeria maintained their winning momentum despite not recording their fastest time, clocking a season’s best of 38.98s to grab victory.

The quartet of Enoch Adegoke, Chidera Ezeakor, Godwin Tejiri and Emmanuel James ensured maximum points with a disciplined baton exchange and strong finish.

However, the mixed 4x400m team fell short of another qualification mark after running 3:16.33, leaving their hopes in that event hanging in the balance ahead of the closing stages of the qualification window.

The performances in Botswana form part of Nigeria’s broader qualification campaign, with the World Relays requiring teams to rank among the top 24 globally in each event.

Qualification places are determined through a combination of host allocation, eight automatic spots from the World Athletics Championships Tokyo 2025 and 15 additional teams from the top lists within the qualification period running from January 1, 2025, to April 5, 2026.

Nigeria had already secured a place in the women’s 4x400m earlier in the campaign after posting 3:31.14 at the MTN Champs Athletics Classics on March 7, but that position remains under threat as they have slipped to 23rd, just one place above the cut-off.

With global competition intensifying and several nations improving their times, Nigeria will make a final push for qualification in the United States in the coming days before the deadline.

The Athletics Federation of Nigeria is aiming to secure representation across multiple relay events, with the recent results in Gaborone significantly boosting their chances.

The high-level visit is scheduled to take place in Abuja from March 30 to 31, 2026, marking a critical milestone in Nigeria’s quest to secure the hosting rights for Africa’s premier multi-sport event.

If the bid scales through, it will be the third time Nigeria is hosting the African Games, after 1973 edition in Lagos and Abuja 2003.

The NSC noted that Nigeria’s bid reflects its strategic vision to consolidate its status as a leading sporting nation on the continent. The Commission emphasised that the country’s rich history of hosting major international competitions, coupled with ongoing investments in sports development, positions Nigeria as a strong contender.

During the visit, members of the AUSC delegation will assess key sporting facilities, supporting infrastructure, and Nigeria’s overall preparedness to host the Games. The inspection will also provide an opportunity for the country to demonstrate its organisational capacity, technical expertise, and commitment to delivering a world-class sporting event.

The delegation comprises senior officials and technical experts responsible for evaluating bidding nations in accordance with established standards for hosting the African Games.

Furthermore, hosting the 2031 African Games is expected to stimulate infrastructure development, create economic opportunities, and enhance youth participation in sports across the country, while strengthening Nigeria’s influence within the African sporting community.

Top junior players have emerged from the round-robin stage of the ongoing 2026 CBN Junior Tennis Championships, setting the stage for thrilling semifinal clashes across multiple age categories.

Heman Afaramai and Damilola Agunbiade delivered standout performances in the Boys’ 16s, finishing the round-robin stage unbeaten to lead the race for final spots.

Afaramai of Ikeja Police College Tennis Club will face Joel Michael of Mainland Tennis Club in one semifinal, while Agunbiade of Calabar Sports Club takes on Wisdom Effiong of GEUF Tennis Academy, Uyo, in the other.

In the Girls’ 12s category, Amira Mohammed of Kwara State will square off against Venus Babalola of Oyo State, while Pinky Onyemenam of Abuja faces fellow Abuja-based player Chimdiuto Obiora in the second semifinal.

The Boys’ 12s event will see tournament favourite Gideon Peter of LekMak Tennis Academy, Ekiti, battle Best Babalola of Oyo State, while Moroti Sowemimo of Lagos meets Kingronnie Onyemenam of Abuja in the other semifinal.

One of the standout performers of the tournament, Barakat Ganiyu, has impressed by qualifying for the semifinals in both the Girls’ 14s and 16s categories after being allowed to compete above her age group.