Hurdles star Tobiloba Amusan and long jump sensation Ese Brume lead Nigeria’s 15-member contingent to the 2025 World Athletics Championships, set to take place in Tokyo, Japan, from 13-21 September.
The squad, comprising seven women and eight men, will compete across sprints, jumps, throws, and hurdles.
Among the notable names is shot putter Chukwuebuka Enekwechi, alongside Samuel Ogazi (400m), Kayinsola Ajayi (100m), and Udodi Onwuzurike (200m).
The women’s lineup includes Chioma Onyekwere-Lyons (discus), Prestina Ochonogor (long jump), Obiageri Amaechi (discus), Rosemary Chukwuma (100m), and Oyesade Olatoye (hammer). Also on the team are Charles Godfred (long jump), Israel S. Okon (100m), Chidi Okezie (400m), and Ezekiel Nathaniel (400m hurdles).
Explaining the rationale behind the streamlined squad, Yussuf Alli, Chief Executive Officer of the Elite Athletes Development and Performance Board under the National Sports Commission (NSC), emphasised a shift in strategy:
“The era of jamboree, sending large teams to major championships without tangible benefits, is over. The Performance Board has been tasked by the NSC to ensure that every athlete selected has the potential to make a meaningful impact.”
Alli, a former African long jump champion, noted that the selection focused on athletes with strong rankings and consistent performances this season, those most likely to reach the finals of their events.
“Anything can happen in athletics,” he added. “But we’re also investing in the future—young athletes with immense potential who need exposure to high-level competition and the experience of performing in front of massive crowds.”
Reflecting on his own debut at the Olympic Games Moscow 1980, Alli shared how the experience shaped his career:
“The crowd was as much a competitor as the athletes. After Moscow, I learned how to thrive under pressure. Three years later, I became a world champion in Canada. That’s the kind of growth we’re aiming for, athletes who can rise to the occasion and become future medallists.”
With the World Championships just days away, Team Nigeria is poised to make its mark in Tokyo with a focused and promising lineup.