High Commission Hosts Team Nigeria In Tokyo After World Athletics Championships

High Commission Hosts Team Nigeria In Tokyo After World Athletics Championships

By Niyi Busari 

The Nigerian High Commission in Tokyo on Saturday hosted Team Nigeria following the conclusion of the country’s participation in the 2025 World Athletics Championships held in Japan, BSNSports.com.ng reports.

Nigeria’s campaign ended on Friday with Ezekiel Nathaniel finishing fourth in the men’s 400m hurdles final, clocking a personal best of 47.11 seconds, narrowly missing out on a place on the podium.

The nation’s only medal at the championships came from Tobi Amusan, who claimed silver in the 100m hurdles, improving on her performance at the 2023 edition in Budapest, where Nigeria failed to make the podium.

While the solitary medal marked a step forward from the previous championships, concerns persist about the overall performance particularly Nigeria’s historic failure to qualify for any of the five relay events for the first time since the inaugural World Championships in 1983.

Despite the setback, several individual performances stood out and offered hope for the future:

Kanyinsola Ajayi reached the men’s 100m final, finishing sixth, Nigeria's first appearance in that event’s final since 2007. Ajayi also broke the 10-second barrier twice during the competition, establishing himself as a rising star on the global stage.

Ezekiel Nathaniel not only made the final of the 400m hurdles but also set a new national record, further highlighting his upward trajectory.

As Nigeria looks ahead, analysts and fans alike are calling on the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) to build on these promising performances. Concerns remain around athlete welfare, investment in coaching and training infrastructure, and the need to foster a more sustainable development pipeline.

The question now is whether the federation will rise to the occasion and provide the necessary support to ensure that Nigerian athletes remain competitive and inspired on the world stage.