Nigeria’s team of athletes and officials for the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo, Japan, are expected to depart the country on Tuesday (today) ahead of the event, which starts on Saturday, 13 September.
The departing Nigerian contingent comprises a few athletes and officials, as some US-based athletes have started arriving in Tokyo.
Sprinter Konyinsola Ajayi hinted at his arrival in the Asian country on Sunday.
Nigeria will field 15 athletes in 11 events, which include the men’s and women’s 100m, women’s 100m hurdles, men’s 200m, men’s 400m, men’s 400m hurdles, men’s and women’s long jump, men’s shot put, women’s discus, and women’s hammer events.
The 15-athlete list, which was released by the Athletics Federation of Nigeria last week, is made up of seven female and eight male athletes.
Nigeria’s squad will be led by 100m hurdles world record holder Tobi Amusan, who has been in mixed form this season. She will be joined by shot putter Chukwuebuka Enekwechi and 400m hurdles star Ezekiel Nathaniel.
Long jumper Ese Brume, the African record holder with 7.17m, is also included. Tokyo has been a successful venue for Brume in the past, and Alli believes she could return to the podium if she rediscovers her best form.
Other athletes named are Samuel Ogazi (400m), Kayinsola Ajayi (100m), Chioma Onyekwere-Lyons (discus), Prestina Ochonogor (long jump), Obiageri Amaechi (discus), Charles Godfred (long jump), Rosemary Chukwuma (100m), Oyesade Olatoye (hammer), Israel S. Okon (100m), and Chidi Okezie (400m).
Amusan is the only Nigerian athlete to have won a world title, following her record-breaking hurdles event at the 2022 edition in Oregon, USA.
The 28-year-old stormed to an astonishing 12.12s in the semi-final to set the world record before claiming the gold in a time of 12.06s.
Her winning time was not recognised as a world record due to a strong following wind of 2.5 metres per second.
