The Athletics Federation of Nigeria has announced the country’s withdrawal from the 2025 World Relays in Guangzhou, China, citing issues with the visa process.
In a statement posted by the federation on Friday on its Facebook page explained that despite starting visa applications in February, athletes encountered obstacles that made participation impossible.
The late issuance of visas by the Chinese authorities was blamed for the withdrawal.
“With deep regret, we, the Athletics Federation of Nigeria, announce our withdrawal from the World Relays following unacceptable visa delays by Chinese authorities.
“Despite our diligent efforts processing documentation since February, our athletes have faced numerous obstacles from embassy embarrassment to last-minute visa issuance that made competition attendance physically impossible.”
According to AFN, the impact of this withdrawal has been severe, which includes wasted training preparations, significant financial losses, lost qualification opportunities, and devastating psychological effects on their athletes, who were ready to represent Nigeria with pride.
The athletic body alleged that frustrations from the Chinese authorities hindered their participation from issuing incorrect invitation letters to excessive requirements, which led to the delay.
“Chinese authorities frustrated our participation by claiming they didn’t have contact with their own Embassy in Washington and Abuja, also providing incorrect invitation letters and changing the application portal twice!
“Their requirement for a special “Verification Letter of Invitation” was poorly communicated and inconsistently applied while they demanded police reports and even Bank statements from all participating athletes, coaches and officials,” the statement reads.
The AFN President, Tonobok Okowa, also expressed his disappointment in a desperate statement claiming that the delay was a deliberate act to stop the visa process.
“Our athletes submitted all required documentation in good faith and well in advance, yet were subjected to delays and obstacles that made their participation impossible.
“The timing of this visa issuance on the very day our team was due to arrive can only be interpreted as either gross administrative incompetence or a deliberate attempt to exclude Nigerian athletes from the World Relays, “ he said
Okowa also called on World Athletics to revise its host selection process, prioritising countries that implement more streamlined and athlete-friendly visa procedures to avoid similar issues in the future.
AFN is seeking compensation for the financial losses resulting from the team’s cancelled trip to Guangzhou for the 2025 World Relays.
PUNCH Online had reported that Team Nigeria will compete in four events at the two-day event, and the AFN has named a strong contingent for the men’s 4×100m, women’s 4×100m, 4×400m mixed relay and the newly introduced 4×100m mixed relay.
Top of the list are women’s 100m hurdles record holder Tobi Amusan and Paris 2024 Olympics 200m finalist Favour Ofili. Amusan and Ofili are joined by Rosemary Chukwuma, Tiana Eyakpobeyan, Success Umukoro and Jennifer Chukwuka Obi for the women’s 4x100m.
Before its withdrawal from the competition, AFN said it was targeting qualification for the World Championships via the World Relays.