Team Nigeria is experiencing a mix of triumphs and challenges at the ongoing World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, with emerging talents shining brightly while some seasoned athletes face unexpected setbacks. The championships have been marked by both impressive individual performances and significant controversies, including issues with athlete kits and the country's absence from relay events.

A major highlight for Nigeria came from Ajayi Kanyisola in the men’s 100 metres heats. Delivering the race of his life, Ajayi clocked a personal best of 9.88 seconds, securing second place in Heat 1, just behind South Africa’s Gift Leotlela (9.87s) and ahead of Jamaica’s Oblique Seville (9.93s). This stellar performance earned him an automatic spot in the next round. Equally impressive was 21-year-old Sunday Israel Okon, who caused a stir in Heat 6 of the 100m. Okon finished first with a time of 10.04 seconds, outperforming strong contenders like Great Britain’s Zharnel Hughes and Olympic champion Marcell Jacobs of Italy, demonstrating his potential for a spot in the final.

However, Nigeria’s women athletes encountered difficulties in track events. Rosemary Chukwuma, the sole Nigerian in the women’s 100m, finished fifth in her heat with 11.27 seconds, which was not enough to advance to the semifinals. In the field events, teenager Prestina Oluchi Ochonogor, making her World Championships debut at 19, did not progress past the women’s long jump qualification. Despite finishing near the bottom, she is widely considered a promising athlete for the future. Long jump star Ese Brume also missed out on the final, though her participation was a testament to her courage, marking her return to competition after a severe car accident.

In the men’s shot put, Nigeria found success with Chukwuebuka Enekwechi, the national record holder, who qualified for the final. His consistent throws, including 20.83m on his first and last attempts and 20.71m on his second, placed him seventh overall, well within the top 12 required for the final. This achievement served as sweet redemption for Enekwechi, who narrowly missed out in Budapest two years prior. Conversely, Nigeria’s discus throwers, Chioma Onyekwere-Lyons and Obiageri Amaechi, were unable to qualify for their final. Onyekwere managed 59.45m but fouled her subsequent attempts, while Amaechi’s 55.69m was insufficient.

A significant point of concern for Team Nigeria is its absence from the relay events at the World Championships. Contrary to social media speculation suggesting deliberate non-registration by the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), facts indicate that the country’s teams failed to meet the stringent qualification requirements set by World Athletics. Qualification for relays is not by invitation but by strict ranking and performance criteria within a specific window. While Nigeria has a strong history in relays, including Olympic medals, the country could not achieve the necessary qualifying marks for this championship.

World Athletics allocates 16 slots for each relay event. Eight teams automatically qualify from the previous World Athletics Relays, a biennial competition. The remaining eight slots are filled based on the aggregate of a country's two fastest performances recorded in World Athletics–sanctioned events during a defined qualification window, ensuring fair competition with standard officiating and electronic timing. Nigeria’s failure stemmed from administrative lapses, including visa glitches, which prevented participation in the crucial World Athletics Relays. Additionally, the country did not clock competitive enough times in the qualification window, largely due to administrative and logistical problems that hindered consistent fielding of its best runners at major relay meets. Consequently, Nigeria was not included in any relay events for the championships.

Adding to the challenges, former world champion and women’s 100m hurdles record holder, Tobi Amusan, publicly criticized the Nigerian government regarding the substandard kits provided for the athletes. In a Snapchat video, Amusan voiced her concerns about what she perceived as unprofessionalism and a lack of coordination within the federation. She highlighted that unlike other nations that supply their contingents with kits in organized suitcases, Nigerian athletes received theirs in simple nylon bags, often containing minimal items. “This country will steadily embarrass you. Una come say make people nor switch allegiance? Una never ready. No singlets. Nothing!” Amusan stated, expressing deep frustration. While acknowledging that even Jamaican authorities faced similar issues, she noted their situation was not as dire as Nigeria’s. Despite these early setbacks and complaints, Team Nigeria still holds hope for improved performances and some positive outcomes in the remaining days of the Tokyo championships.