The Athletics Federation of Nigeria has included Favour Ashe in a 24-man squad for the forthcoming World Athletics Relays scheduled for May 2 and 3 in Gaborone, Botswana, despite lingering uncertainty surrounding his international allegiance, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
The list, released on Tuesday by the federation’s technical committee following successful entries before the April 13 deadline as Nigeria prepares to compete across all six relay events.
Ashe’s inclusion is particularly notable after widespread reports suggested the 23-year-old had opted to switch allegiance to Qatar.
However, the World Athletics has confirmed to PUNCH Sports Extra that no formal application has been submitted by the sprinter or any other Nigerian athlete.
According to the global governing body, any athlete seeking to change nationality must undergo a standard three-year waiting period before representing a new country, a rule that would affect Ashe should he proceed with such a move.
The sprinter, who boasts a personal best of 9.94s in the 100m, remains officially eligible for Nigeria and has now been named in the relay squad.
Nigeria’s men’s 4x100m team includes Ashe alongside Olympic finalist Enoch Adegoke, James Emmanuel, Chidera Ezeakor and Tejiri Godwin.
For the men’s 4x400m, the squad comprises Ezekiel Azukwo, Gafari Badmus, Victor Ime, Samson Nathaniel, Emmanuel Ojeli and Chidi Okezie.
In the women’s 4x100m, Nigeria named Jenifer Chukwuka, Rosemary Chukwuma, Miracle Ezechukwu, Rosemary Nwankwo, Maria Omokwe and 2026 world’s fastest woman Blessing Ogundiran.
The women’s 4x400m team features Anita Enaruna, Patience Okon-George, Toheebat Jimoh, Taiwo Kudoro, Jecinta Lawrence and Esther Okon.
Nigeria’s mixed 4x100m relay squad includes Adegoke, Chukwuma, Emmanuel, Ezeakor, Ezechukwu and Ogundiran, while the mixed 4x400m team is made up of Sekiru Adeyemi, Enaruna, Okon-George, Jimoh, Ojeli and Okezie.
The AFN’s decision to enter athletes in all six relay events comes despite Nigeria having officially qualified for only three before the deadline, namely the men’s 4x400m, women’s 4x400m and mixed 4x100m.
The federation has, however, indicated that clearance has been granted for participation across all events, although final confirmation is expected when World Athletics releases the complete list of entries in coming days.
