Nigeria to battle 37 countries for World Relays medals In Botswana
The stage is set in Gaborone as 38 countries converge for the highly anticipated World Athletics Relays, with athletes competing not only for medals but also for qualification slots to the 2027 World Championships and the 2026 World Ultimate Championships.
The two-day competition, scheduled for Saturday, May 2 and Sunday, May 3, 2026, will feature six relay events: the 4x100m and 4x400m relays for men and women, alongside the 4x100m and 4x400m mixed relays.
The event will begin with Round 1 races on Day 1, starting at 2:05 pm local time with the 4x100m mixed relays.
The qualification rounds and finals will take place on Day 2, starting at 2:02 pm local time in Botswana.
A total of 27 athletes will represent Nigeria across all six relay events, underscoring the nation’s strong presence and ambition on the global athletics stage.
The Nigerian contingent will compete in both men’s and women’s categories, as well as the mixed relay events, aiming to secure podium finishes and qualification berths.
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Day 1 will feature the opening rounds, including the mixed relay events and World Championships Qualification Round 1 (WCH Q1) for the men’s and women’s relays.
Day 2 will intensify with World Championships Qualification Round 2 (WCH Q2), followed by the World Athletics Ultimate Championship Qualification (WAUC Q) races and the finals across all events.
It is the 8th edition of the World Athletics Relays and the first time the event will be held in Botswana, or in Africa.
The event will serve as a qualifying event for the 2026 World Athletics Ultimate Championships in Budapest and the 2027 World Athletics Championships in Beijing.
The top six teams in the Mixed 4 × 100 metres relay and 4 × 400 metres relay will secure direct entry to Budapest, while the top 12 teams in each event will qualify for Beijing.
