Nigeria’s sprint relay team is set for a crucial make-or-break attempt to qualify for the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, following a late setback that saw them fall out of the top 16 global rankings.

The Athletics Federation of Nigeria on Saturday officially confirmed that the men’s 4x100m relay team will make a qualification push during the ongoing National Trials at Yaba College of Technology, Lagos.

This effort comes after Jamaica’s blistering 37.80s performance at the London Diamond League catapulted them into 15th place in the World Athletics relay rankings, pushing Nigeria out of the final qualification slot.

The Netherlands also edged Nigeria out, taking the 16th and final qualifying spot with their 37.87s run at the 2025 European Championships in Madrid in June.

Nigeria had previously held 16th place with the 38.20s time recorded at the Paris 2024 Olympics, but now must improve on that performance before the qualification window closes.

Speaking during a press briefing on Friday, AFN president Tonobok Okowa admitted that Nigeria’s absence from the World Relays in China earlier this year has left the country playing catch-up.

“We were not able to attend the World Relays in China, so because of that, none of our relay teams have qualified,” Okowa said.

The men’s 4x100m team had qualified in the past, but Jamaica just earned their spot and knocked us out of the top 16 countries. That has left us with a serious problem.”

Despite the challenge, Okowa said there is renewed optimism among the athletes in Lagos, with all eight finalists from the men’s 100m event registered to compete in the relay trials.

They include Israel Okon, Alaba Akintola, Adekalu Fakorede, Seye Ogunlewe, Olaolu Olatunde, James Emmanuel, Enoch Adegoke, and ThankGod Igube.

These athletes will be split into two teams to compete in a timed relay event that could determine Nigeria’s Tokyo 2025 fate.

“A lot of our sprinters, 100m and 200m specialists, are determined to beat the time we currently have. We also have very fast 400m runners in the country.”

I can tell you that they are all here and eager to do the nation proud,” Okowa added. “Nobody knows what will happen, but the athletes are in high spirits and ready to bring Nigeria back into the relay picture.”

The AFN president also confirmed that Ghana’s relay teams, both the 4x100m and 4x400m men’s squads, arrived in Nigeria for the event, and Saturday PUNCH confirmed they were present at the trials on Saturday to observe proceedings.

“We will see what our boys can do to qualify,” Okowa said.

“But even if we don’t succeed here, there’s still another window. The CAA Region II Championships, which will hold from August 13 to 17 in Ghana, offer another opportunity. That meet, involving West African nations, is expected to be very competitive.”

To book their place at the World Championships in September, the Nigerian team will likely need to better the 38.20s mark currently sitting on the edge of the rankings, and possibly aim for a sub-38s performance, surpassing the national record of 37.94s set in Athens in 1997.