Team Nigeria Withdraws From 2025 World Relays Over Late Issuance Of Visas

Nigeria has officially withdrawn from the 2025 World Relays scheduled to take place in Guangzhou, China, citing delays in the issuance of visas to its athletes.

In a statement by the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) on Friday, the national athletics body blamed China’s visa process as the primary reason for the withdrawal.

The AFN stated that the delays made it logistically impossible for the Nigerian team to participate in the event, which begins this Friday.

The federation accused Chinese authorities of deliberately delaying the visa process through what it described as excessive and discriminatory requirements.

AFN President Tonobok Okowa condemned the last-minute issuance of visas, calling it either an administrative failure or a deliberate attempt to exclude Nigeria from the championships.

Reaffirming its commitment to ensuring Nigerian athletes’ participation in global competitions, the AFN urged World Athletics to reconsider its host selection criteria—favoring countries with more athlete-friendly visa processes.

Additionally, the AFN is now demanding appropriate compensation for financial losses incurred due to the team’s aborted trip to Guangzhou.