By Samuel Akpan
Nigeria’s mixed 4×400 metres quartet delivered a gutsy performance at the World Relays in Botswana, storming to second place with a season’s best of 3:12.88 and automatically booking their ticket to the 2027 World Championships in Beijing.
In a display of pure determination at Gaborone’s National Stadium, the quartet of Samson Nathaniel, Taiwo Kudoro, Chidi Okezie, and Patience Okon-George gave an exhaustive performance.
The Nigerian team produced the decisive run that secured qualification on the spot, powering through the mixed relay with precision and raw determination.
After anchoring the quartet with an all-out effort in the final leg, Okon-George was visibly overcome by fatigue.
Her exhaustion was so complete that she was forced to miss standing for the official team photograph following the race.
In a telling moment, the male runner who handed the baton to Okon-George glanced skyward, visibly relieved that Nigeria held a commanding lead heading into the anchor stretch.
Chidi Okezie, affectionately known as “Bang Bang,” once again showed why he remains a pillar of Nigerian athletics.
Still going strong after a decade of national service, the veteran poured his heart out for the country in yet another high-stakes relay.
The atmosphere in Gaborone was electric as local fans turned out in huge numbers to support the World Relays.
Despite tickets priced as high as 500 Pulas, the National Stadium was packed to capacity, creating a vibrant backdrop for the continental showdown.
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