By Our Correspondent
National News – Nigeria is set to chase success at the 2026 World Athletics Relays as its athletes compete at the Lefika International Relays in Botswana on March 28.
The Lefika Relays, hosted at the National Stadium, provide an essential platform for Nigerian sprinters to sharpen their performance ahead of the global event scheduled in Gaborone from May 2 to 3.
This marks the first time the prestigious competition will take place on African soil, raising excitement across the continent.
Six countries, including Poland, South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, and hosts Botswana, have confirmed participation.
Nigeria will compete in multiple events, featuring the men’s and women’s 4x100m relays, the 4x400m relays, and the mixed 4x400m relay.
Notably, Nigeria’s women’s 4x400m squad has already secured a spot at the World Relays after clocking 3:31.14 at the MTN CHAMPS Athletics Classics in Calabar on March 7.
This performance elevated them to 22nd in the World Rankings, displacing Mexico from the top 24.
Despite this qualification, Nigerian athletes aim to improve their times at the Lefika Relays to maintain their ranking and gain competitive readiness.
Dineo Basitang, Lefika Athletics Club secretary, highlighted that preparations are progressing smoothly, with limited sponsorship being the only challenge.
Basitang added that the event offers athletes an opportunity to acclimatize, refine strategies, and gauge competition ahead of the global stage.
“This year’s Lefika Relays will be historic,” Basitang noted. “The number of participating countries has grown significantly, and the event now serves as both a qualifier and a rehearsal for the World Relays.”
Nigeria’s participation reflects its continued prominence in international athletics, with athletes striving for excellence while preparing for one of the biggest relay events on the continent.
Fans and sports enthusiasts eagerly await performances that could reinforce Nigeria’s position among the world’s top sprinting nations.
