Nigeria has set the first African record in the mixed 4×100 metres after the quartet of Chidera Ezeakor, Maria Thompson, James Emmanuel, and Jenifer Obi clinched the event at the Lefika International Relays in Gaborone on Saturday.

The quartet crossed the finish line at a time of 41.44 seconds to beat second-placed Kenya (41.70 seconds) to secure first in the race featuring Africa’s fastest, Ferdinand Omanyala, who anchored for the East African nation.

The result further solidifies Nigeria’s ranking for the 2026 World Athletics Relays, as the West African country moved up to 12th on the qualification table for the tournament, which starts later in May.

The 2025 tournament in China was the first World Athletics Relays featuring the mixed 4×100 metres category.

Additionally, Nigeria finished third in the men’s 4×400 metres run in Gaborone but managed to move into a qualifying position for the World Relays. Nigeria currently sit 22nd out of 24 teams.

The quartet of Samson Nathaniel, Emmanuel Ojeli, Victor Sampson, and Sikiru Adeyemi ran a time of 3:02.98 seconds (season’s best) to finish behind Kenya and Zimbabwe, which were first and second, respectively.

Nigeria hopes that no more than two countries better their times before April 5 to secure qualification for the men’s 4x400m at the World Relays.

Despite winning the men’s 4x100m relay, Nigeria failed to move into a qualification position for the World Relays. Team Nigeria, made up of Enoch Adegoke, Chidera Ezeakor, Tejiri Godwin, and James Emmanuel, set a time of 38.98 seconds to beat Kenya and Botswana.

They also have until April 5 to secure a spot in the tournament.