Sports
Nigerian Men’s Relay Teams Set To Redeem Image
After some failed attempts, the Nigerian male 4x100m and 4x400m relay teams have another opportunity to redeem their image tomorrow in the battle for Tokyo Olympics tickets.
On two occasions in Lagos, the Nigerian male relay teams fumbled, while their female counterparts were celebrated. The quartet of Blessing Okagbare, Grace Nwokocha, Favour Ofili and Rosemary Chukwuma picked the 4x100m ticket during the AFN/Olympics Trials at YABA TECH last Sunday, while the quartet of Patience Okon-George, Nse Imaobong, Favour Ofili and Knowledge Omovoh joined the Tokyo Olympics train on Thursday at the Teslim Balogun Stadium after they stormed to a Season’s Best of 3:26.83s at the Lagos Open Athletics Championship.
With three days to go before the qualifying window for the Olympics closes on June 29, Nigerian male relay teams, as well as 4×400 Mixed Relay have another golden chance tomorrow at the Making of Champions (MoC) Invitational holding at YABA TECH.
According the Chief Executive Officer of MoC, Bombo Akani, tomorrow’s event sponsored by Paga is aimed at providing last chance for Nigerian and African athletes seeking Olympic qualification in both their Individual Events and the Relays to do so.
About five African countries have arrived in Lagos for the event.
The Paga/MoC Relays will feature 24 athletics events, including 18 individual (10 Track and eight Field) events and six Relays. Nigerian men’s 4x100m team was rooted in same 18th position on the list of countries battling for the Olympics ticket on Thursday as the quartet of Enoch Adegoke, Usheoritse Itsekiri, Jerry Jakpa and Godson Brume could not live up to expectation.
Meanwhile, President of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), Tonobok Okowa told Tidesports source yesterday that he is still hopeful of the men picking their relay tickets. “Anything can still happen. We will continue to push until it is over.” He urged the male athletes to do everything possible to grab the last opportunity provided by the MoC Invitational Relays.
In a statement released by the league, the competition is scheduled to take place from Friday, June 5 to Sunday, June 14, 2026, with six clubs set to battle for the league title at the end of the 2025/26 season.
NWFL Chief Operating Officer, Modupe Shabi, said the choice of Port Harcourt reflects the Rivers State Government’s continued support for women’s football and its successful hosting of the league’s Annual General Assembly last year.
The Super Six tournament will feature the top three teams from Group A and Group B of the regular season competing in a round-robin format, with each club playing five matches over nine days.
Qualified teams for the competition include defending champions Bayelsa Queens, Edo Queens, Rivers Angels, Robo Queens, Nasarawa Amazons, and debutants Abia Angels.
The NWFL Premiership has produced four different winners in the last five editions, with Rivers Angels winning in 2021, Bayelsa Queens claiming the title in 2022 and 2025, Delta Queens triumphing in 2023, and Edo Queens emerging champions in 2024.
The league also urged participating clubs to comply with all competition regulations and directives ahead of the championship. The Super Six will determine Nigeria’s representative for the WAFU-B qualifiers for a place at the 2026 CAF Women’s Champions League and ultimately the 2027 FIFA Women’s Champions Cup.
Teams are expected to arrive on Friday, June 5, when the draw ceremony and pre-match meeting will also take place. Matchdays are scheduled for June 6, 8, 10, 12, and 14, with rest days in between before the tournament concludes with the trophy presentation ceremony.
