Sports
National Trials: Nigeria Set For Relay Ticket
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.
Gialuigui Donnarumma (Italy and Man City)
One of the greatest strikers of the past 15 years, Poland’s Robert Lewandowski, is among the big names who will not be playing at the 2026 World Cup in Canada, the United States and Mexico.
The 37-year-old Barcelona striker, who has scored 89 goals for his country, was not able to inspire his side as they lost 3-2 in Stockholm against Sweden in Tuesday’s play-off final.
Lewandowski, who won the German Bundesliga title on 10 occasions, twice with Borussia Dortmund and then in eight successive seasons with Bayern Munich, before winning La Liga twice with Barca, may have played in his last major international tournament.
Lewandowski captained Poland at the World Cup in 2018, but did not score in Russia as his country came bottom of the group. He had a better tournament four years later in Qatar, scoring twice as Poland reached the last 16 before losing to France.
He netted four times in Group G in 2026 qualifying only for Poland to finish three points behind the Netherlands, before losing to Sweden on Tuesday.
Gialuigui Donnarumma (Italy and Man City)
Another star that will be missing in action at the mundial is Gialuigui Donnarumma of Italy.
Italy lost in the World Cup play-offs for a third successive qualifying tournament
Gianluigi Donnarumma has been one of the best goalkeepers in the Premier League this season since he moved from Paris St-Germain for £26m in September, after helping the French club win the Champions League last season.
Despite being player of the tournament as Italy won the 2020 European Championship, he misses out on a World Cup again after Italy lost 4-1 on penalties to Bosnia-Herzegovina on Tuesday.
Serhou Guirassy (Borussia Dortmund and Guinea)
Serhou Guirassy is Fourth in the list of Bundesliga top scorers this season
Serhou Guirassy has established himself as one of most prolific strikers playing in Europe, with 62 goals in the German Bundesliga over the past three seasons, while no player scored more than his 13 goals in the Champions League in 2024-25.
But he will not be at the World Cup as his country Guinea went out in the first round of African qualifying, finishing fourth in their group, with only four wins and three draws from their 10 matches.
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (Georgia and PSG)
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia helped Paris St-Germain become European champions last season, scoring in the 5-0 final win over Inter Milan, and he came 12th in the 2025 Ballon d’Or awards.
But Georgia had a miserable campaign in World Cup qualifying as they only picked up three points from a group that contained Spain, Turkey and Bulgaria.
Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray and Nigeria)
Victor Osimhen has scored 26 goals for club and country this season
Victor Osimhen helped Napoli win Serie A in 2023 before moving to Galatasaray, where he grabbed 26 goals in 30 games to take them to the Turkish title last season.
Nigeria drew five of their 10 matches in the first group phase as they finished one point behind winners South Africa, but then had a second chance in the following play-off.
With Osimhen already substituted, Nigeria lost on penalties to DR Congo to miss out on the World Cup.
Dominik Szoboszlai (Liverpool and Hungary)
Dominik Szoboszlai has scored 12 goals for Liverpool this season
Liverpool and Hungary midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai has impressed this season and scored some stunning long-range goals.
But he will not be at the World Cup after his country let a 2-1 lead slip in their final group game with the Republic of Ireland scoring twice in injury time to clinch a spot in the play-offs and eliminate Hungary.
Female wrestlers in action at Governor Diri Wrestling Classics.
Ondo State wrestlers dominated the women’s events on Day six of the fourth Governor Douye Diri Wrestling Classics in Yenagoa on Monday, claiming gold medals in two of the four women’s freestyle categories.
African champion Khadijat Idris of Ondo State led the charge in the 55kg division, defeating rising talent Mary Ayeloh of Bayelsa State by technical superiority to claim gold. Happiness Soso of Delta State and Augustine Rhoda of Lagos State took bronze medals in the category.
Damola Ojo also flew the Ondo flag proudly in the 76kg event, retaining her title after defeating all opponents in a round-robin format. Nigeria Army wrestler Laide Ojo settled for silver, while Juliet Ogo of Bayelsa State and Mercy Alison of Abia State each claimed bronze.
In the 62kg category, Patience Kakanda of Bayelsa State produced the upset of the day, defeating Nigeria Army’s Precious Tieberi 3-1 in the final to be crowned the new champion. Isioma Abojei of Delta State and Blessing Apah of Dynamite Club won bronze medals.
Rivers State’s Esther Asaolu also retained her title in the 59kg division, overcoming all her opponents in the round-robin format, with Patience Opuene of Bayelsa State finishing as runner-up.
In the men’s events, Solomon Ulabo of Bayelsa State claimed gold in the 79kg category, with Kpum Ayibasisei of Edo State taking silver and Rasheed Saliu of Ondo State and Ebisindei Okorie of Dynamite Club winning bronze. NewLife Ebikeme of Bayelsa State won the 92kg gold, ahead of Perezidei Obaze of Edo State in silver position, while Tobechukwu Udeh of the Nigeria Army and Timilehin Adekanmi of Ondo State claimed bronze medals.