Nigeria’s hopes of participating in the 2025 World Athletics Relays have been dashed following the late issuance of visas by Chinese authorities, prompting the Athletics Federation of Nigeria to announce the withdrawal of Team Nigeria from the global competition in Guangzhou.
In a statement released on Thursday, the AFN expressed deep disappointment over the situation, blaming the last-minute visa approvals on what it described as administrative failures and discriminatory practices by the Chinese visa system.
Despite applying well in advance, the athletes were issued entry visas on May 8 — the very day they were scheduled to arrive in China — making travel and participation logistically impossible.
“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 Chinese administrative processes,” the AFN said.
According to the federation, Nigerian athletes submitted their visa applications on April 25 at Chinese embassies in Washington DC, Berlin, and Abuja — giving authorities a two-week window to process their requests.
However, the process was plagued by delays and inconsistencies, including a lack of clarity regarding a required “Verification Letter of Invitation,” which even local organizers in China reportedly struggled to explain.
The AFN listed several key grievances, excessive and discriminatory documentation demands placed on Nigerian nationals, far beyond what is typical for international sporting events.
Deliberate delays in visa processing without clear justification, poor communication and inconsistent requirements surrounding the Verification Letter, contributing to confusion and further delays.
A final, unexplained delay, with visas withheld for several additional days even after all documents were deemed complete.
The federation expressed its regret over the missed opportunity, emphasising that the athletes had been well-prepared and eager to compete on the world stage.
“This is a tremendous loss not just for our athletes, but for Nigerian athletics as a whole,” the AFN stated.
“We call on World Athletics and relevant stakeholders to investigate and ensure that such systemic failures do not continue to undermine global sporting fairness and inclusivity.”
The 2025 World Relays in Guangzhou serve as a key Olympic qualifier and global showcase for sprinting nations. Nigeria’s absence is expected to impact both competition dynamics and qualification outcomes for the Paris 2026 Olympic Games.
