At the Paris 2024 Olympics, Nigeria’s relay teams delivered promising performances despite missing out on finals qualification. The women’s 4x100m team, comprising Justina Eyakpobeyan, Favour Ofili, Rosemary Chukwuma, and Tima Godless, finished 6th in their heat with a Season’s Best time of 42.70s. While they didn’t secure a spot in the final, the young team shows significant potential for future success.
In the men’s 4x100m, the Nigerian quartet of Favour Ashe, Kanyinsola Ajayi, Alaba Akintola, and Usheoritse Itsekiri ran a Season’s Best of 38.20s, finishing 7th in their heat. The race was highly competitive, with the USA and South Africa securing the top spots. South Africa’s men’s team particularly shone, finishing 2nd in their heat with a time of 37.94s, earning an automatic place in the final.
Despite the setbacks, the Season’s Best times set by both Nigerian teams reflect their progress and potential. With continued development, these teams could become strong contenders in future competitions. Other African nations like South Africa also demonstrated their growing competitiveness, especially in the men’s relay, signaling a bright future for African athletics on the global stage.