Nigeria were denied the opportunity to compete for the first medal at the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest, Hungary, on Friday after visa issues prevented three members of their mixed 4x100m relay team from travelling.
The mixed 4x100m relay opened the medal events at the championship, but Nigeria were unable to line up after Miracle Ezechukwu, Favour Ashe and Rosemary Nwankwo were left behind in Nigeria due to visa complications.
As of Thursday, a source within the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) had told Punch that at least one of the athletes was yet to secure a visa, raising concerns over Nigeria’s participation in the event.
The mixed 4x100m relay is making its global senior track and field championship debut after being introduced at the World Relays earlier this year, with each quartet competing in national kits.
Six teams automatically qualified for the Budapest event after reaching the final of the mixed 4x100m relay at the World Relays in May.
The teams were Canada, Germany, Jamaica, Nigeria, Spain and the United States.
The relay is the only event at the Ultimate Championship subject to a country quota, with just one quartet from each nation permitted to compete. Unlike conventional global championships, there is no similar restriction in the individual events.
Nigeria secured their place after recording a time of 42.03 seconds in the World Relays final to finish among the top six teams.
The quartet of Favour Ashe, Jennifer Chukwuka-Obi, Maria Thompson and reigning National Sports Festival champion Chidera Ezeakor produced the performance that earned Nigeria a place at the high-profile and lucrative championship.
However, despite qualifying on the track, Nigeria’s hopes of contesting the inaugural mixed 4x100m relay medal were ultimately ended by visa complications.
