The performance of the Nigerian 400m relay teams at the 2024 Paris Olympics has left many fans disappointed, as both the men’s and women’s squads failed to advance to the finals.
The men’s team, consisting of Favour Ashe, Kanyinsola Ajayi, Alaba Akintola, and Usheoritse Itsekiri, finished 7th in their heat with a season’s best time of 38.20 seconds, well off the pace set by the top teams. The women’s squad, including Justina Eyakpobeyan, Favour Ofili, Rosemary Chukwuma, and Tima Godbless, also missed the final, placing 6th in their heat with a season best of 42.70 seconds.
Despite the setback, Nigeria’s mixed 4x400m relay team managed to qualify for the Olympics by finishing second at the World Relays in May. The quartet of Samuel Ogazi, Ella Onojuvwevwo, Chidi Okezie, and Esther Elo Joseph clocked 3:13.79, sealing their spot for the second consecutive Olympics.
However, in the semifinal at the Paris Games, the mixed relay team narrowly fell short of reaching the final, finishing outside the top three automatic qualifying positions. The lineup of Samuel Ogazi, Ella Onojuvwevwo, Emmanuel Ojeli, and Patience Okon George gave it their best effort but came up just short of the final.
While the individual performances in the 400m events and the 4x400m relays were not up to expectations, Nigeria will still be looking to their other track and field stars, such as Tobi Amusan in the 100m hurdles and Samuel Ogazi in the individual 400m, to salvage the country’s medal hopes in athletics