The deliberate assembly is approaching the heels of Nigeria’s surprising withdrawal from the World Athletics Relays happening this weekend in Guangzhou, China.
Following Nigeria’s surprising withdrawal from the 2025 World Athletics Relays in Guangzhou, China, the Chinese language Embassy in Nigeria has damaged its silence on the visa controversy that left Crew Nigeria unable to journey.
In an unique interview with PREMIUM TIMES, the Cultural Counsellor on the Chinese language Embassy in Nigeria, Yang Jianxing, provided an in depth account of the occasions and emphasised the embassy’s dedication to resolving the matter amicably.
Mr Yang stated that the embassy has scheduled a gathering with the Nationwide Sports activities Fee (NSC) to debate the visa points that pissed off the delegation’s participation.
“Subsequent week, we plan to satisfy with the workers on the Nationwide Sports activities Fee to speak about this. We wish to clarify all the things we did and ensure such an unlucky consequence doesn’t occur once more.” Mr Yang stated.
A central level of rivalry within the controversy is the conflicting timelines supplied by the Chinese language Embassy and the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) concerning the submission of visa functions.
Tight timeline
Based on Mr Yang, the Chinese language Embassy acted swiftly inside its procedural constraints as soon as the Nigerian delegation submitted all of the required documentation, however the functions had been obtained late, and the time obtainable for processing was extraordinarily restricted.
“We usually require a minimal of 5 working days to course of and examine visa functions,” he defined. “Sadly, as a result of Could Day vacation from 1-5 Could, we misplaced helpful processing time.”
Mr Yang stated that originally, 9 Nigerian delegation members had been meant to journey, however after doc assessment, solely seven had full and acceptable functions.
He stated that regardless of the embassy’s shortened timeline, visas for the seven had been permitted and issued on the night of 8 Could, simply hours earlier than the crew’s scheduled flight.
“We launched the visas at 5:10 p.m., and their flight was at round 9 p.m. I feel, or earlier,” he stated. “The time was extraordinarily tight, however we did all the things we might to fast-track the method.”
Mr Yang additional clarified that the delayed submission considerably constrained the embassy’s capacity to course of the functions on time.
“As a bureau, we’d like 5 days, however we shortened the inspection time to strive our greatest to assist. If the paperwork had arrived earlier than the Could Day vacation, the scenario would have been completely different,” he added.
Nevertheless, this narrative seems at odds with the AFN’s official assertion.
Based on the federation, preparations for visa functions started as early as February.
“Regardless of our diligent efforts processing documentation since February, our athletes confronted quite a few obstacles, from embassy embarrassment to last-minute visa issuance that made competitors attendance bodily unattainable,” the AFN stated.
Total, the lack of the 9 visa candidates (made up of athletes and officers) to get their visas early prevented them from becoming a member of different foreign-based Nigerian athletes, who had possible sorted their Chinese language journey paperwork from their bases. Because the occasion is a relay competitors, all members of the crew had been wanted for efficient participation, therefore Nigeria’s determination to withdraw.
No blame video games
Mr Yang emphasised that each the Chinese language facet and the Nigerian delegation tried their greatest, and he avoided assigning blame.
“I do not wish to blame anybody,” he said. “The whole time was simply too brief. Everybody tried their greatest, together with our embassy workers and the Nigerian officers.”
He additionally expressed deep disappointment on the end result, describing the missed alternative as “very unhappy” for each nations.
“The Guangzhou World Relays was an amazing alternative for Nigerian and African athletes. I consider they might have achieved glorious outcomes,” Mr.Yang stated.
Dedication to stronger collaboration
Mr Yang expressed the embassy’s dedication to fostering a better relationship with Nigeria’s sports activities authorities sooner or later.
He stated clearer communication and earlier preparation could be essential to keep away from related incidents sooner or later.
“We hope to enhance communication and coordination going ahead. Higher change of knowledge between our two sides will assist us keep away from this sort of drawback sooner or later. From subsequent time, we wish to make certain Nigerian groups can journey to China easily for sports activities and cultural exchanges,” he stated.
AFN expresses outrage
In the meantime, the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) has reacted strongly to the incident.
In an official assertion launched, the federation expressed “deep remorse” over the nation’s withdrawal, calling it a “devastating blow” to Nigerian athletes who had skilled intensely for months in preparation for the occasion.
The federation famous that the results of the withdrawal are far-reaching. Not solely has Nigeria misplaced an important probability to safe early Olympic qualification within the relays, however the athletes have additionally endured monetary losses and psychological stress.
“The influence has been extreme: wasted coaching preparations, important monetary losses, misplaced qualification alternatives, and devastating psychological results on our athletes who had been able to characterize Nigeria with pleasure,” the assertion learn.
The named Nigerian crew
About two weeks in the past, the AFN had unveiled the crew chosen for the World Relays, confirming that the nation would compete in 4 of the six relay classes: males’s 4x100m, ladies’s 4x100m, blended 4x100m, and blended 4x400m.
Amongst them had been the world file holder within the 100m hurdles, Tobi Amusan, American collegiate dash sensation Favour Ashe, and former U-20 World Champion Udodi Onwuzurike.
Amusan and Favour Ofili had been additionally anticipated to offer crucial expertise and management within the ladies’s and blended 4x100m relays.
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The boys’s 4x100m crew included Alaba Akintola, Karlington Anunagba, Olaoye Folawiyo, Usheoritse Itsekiri, in addition to Ashe and Onwuzurike, whose velocity and baton change had impressed in earlier competitions.
The ladies’s squad featured Amusan, Ofili, Rosemary Chukwuma, Justina Eyakpobeyan, Obi Jennifer Chukwuka, and Success Umukoro–athletes identified for his or her consistency in each native and worldwide meets.
Within the blended 4x100m, Nigeria mixed the explosive tempo of Akintola, Ashe, Ofili, and Chukwuma with the dynamic contributions of Onwuzurike and Umukoro.
The blended 4x400m crew noticed the return of 400m veterans Chidi Okezie and Ifeanyi Ojeli alongside Samson Nathaniel, Reward Idamadudu, Persistence Okon-George, and Omolara Ogunmakinju, all of whom have represented Nigeria on main international levels.
Subsequent steps
The AFN is now trying to interact with World Athletics to discover various qualification routes for the affected groups forward of the Olympics. The Nationwide Sports activities Fee can be wanting in direction of exploring different believable choices.
The persistent visa challenges Nigerian groups face whereas attempting to attend worldwide competitions have as soon as once more been spotlighted by this newest incident.
From athletics to basketball and even soccer, varied nationwide groups have missed tournaments because of delays or denials in securing visas.
This newest setback highlights the pressing want for higher diplomatic coordination, early logistical planning, and fairer visa protocols in international sports activities.
