Nigeria’s 4x400m men’s relay team set for action

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The 20th World Athletics Indoor Championships holding in Nanjing, China, may present Nigeria’s 4x400m men’s relay team an opportunity to redeem its image following the disappointment at the Paris 2024 Olympics where the team was disqualified after running a Season’s Best time of two minutes 59.81 seconds in the heat.

At the Paris Olympics, the Nigerian athletes were looking forward to emulating the Los Angeles 1984, Sydney 2000 and Athens 2004 teams that won bronze, gold and bronze medals respectively in the Games.

The quartet of Emmanuel Ojeli, Ezekiel Nathaniel, Dubem Amene and Chidi Okezie started well and finished Paris 2024 heat two with a season’s best time, but one of the Nigerian runners crossed lanes, which led to the tripping of a South African runner. The spot won by Nigeria was eventually given to South Africa. France later won the race in two minutes 59.53 seconds with Belgium taking the third automatic spot in two minutes 59.84 seconds.

Now, the Nigerian 4x400m men’s relay team has been presented with an opportunity to redeem its image at the indoor meet slated to hold from March 21 to 23 at the newly built Nanjing’s Cube Gymnasium, in the Nanjing Youth Olympic Sports Park, China.

The Director of the National Sports Commission’s Elites Athletes and Podium Board, Yusuf Ali, had earlier told The Guardian that six athletes were being prepared for the China meet.

It was, however, learnt that two other athletes could join the team for the trip to China, bringing the number to eight.

An official of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) also told The Guardian, yesterday, that the team, made up of both home-based and foreign athletes, is receiving adequate preparation for