The Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) has confirmed they will not be competing at the 2025 World Relays in Guangzhou, China set to begin today. The AFN cited delays in visa issuance by the Chinese authorities as the reason behind their withdrawal. “The Athletics Federation of Nigeria announces with deep regret the withdrawal of team Nigeria from the 2025 World Relays in Guangzhou, China, despite visas finally being issued today, far too late for meaningful participation,” the statement read. The withdrawal follows a worrying trend for Nigerian athletics’ relationship with China as the federation fielded a heavily reduced contingent at the World Indoors Championships held in Nanjing, China in March, again due to visa issues. The AFN has laid the blame at the feet of the Chinese authorities who they believed had caused undue delays in the visa processing. “This last-minute issuance, occurring on the very day our team was scheduled to arrive in Guangzhou, renders participation logistically impossible and demonstrates a fundamental failure of the Chinese administrative processes,” the AFN stated. AFN President Tonobok Okowa also voiced his discontent with the situation. He believes the situation was a deliberate attempt to exclude team Nigeria and maintains the AFN had complied with all protocols required of them. “Today’s last-minute visa issuance by Chinese authorities represents a diplomatic failure that has profound sporting consequences,” the AFN president said. “Our athletes submitted all required documents in good faith and well in advance, yet were subjected to delays and obstacles that made participation impossible. “The timing of this visa issuance, on the very day our team was scheduled to arrive in China, can only be interpreted as either gross administrative incompetence or a deliberate attempt to exclude Nigerian athletes from the World Relays.” When The Gleaner reached out to the sport’s governing body, World Athletics, the organisation denied any reports that visas for Nigerian athletes and personnel were delayed or denied. “Following the correct visa process and timelines is of paramount importance for all stakeholders to ensure their visas are issued in time, and as far as we have been informed, no visas were denied to athletes or support personnel from Nigeria,” World Athletics told The Gleaner. World Athletics also stated that all countries scheduled to compete were informed of the requirements for their visa applications and the deadlines for complete the process. The governing body maintained while visa requirements differ based on the country, their local organising committee had been ‘extremely collaborative’ with all countries involved. “Visa entry criteria differ country by country. The Local Organising Committee for World Athletics Relays Guangzhou 25 has always been very clear with all stakeholders regarding the specific requirements to acquire a visa in time for the competition and have been extremely collaborative throughout the process.” The World Relays will begin today and serve as the qualifying event for teams wishing to compete in relays at the 2025 World Athletics Championships set to be held in Tokyo, Japan in September.
