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 Staff Nigeria unable to journey.
In an unique interview with PREMIUM TIMES, the Cultural Counsellor on the Chinese language Embassy in Nigeria, Yang Jianxing, supplied an in depth account of the occasions and emphasised the embassy’s dedication to resolving the matter amicably.
Mr Yang mentioned that the embassy has scheduled a gathering with the Nationwide Sports activities Fee (NSC) to debate the visa points that annoyed the delegation’s participation.
“Subsequent week, we plan to fulfill with the workers on the Nationwide Sports activities Fee to speak about this. We wish to clarify every thing we did and ensure such an unlucky consequence doesn’t occur once more.” Mr Yang mentioned.
A central level of rivalry within the controversy is the conflicting timelines offered by the Chinese language Embassy and the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) relating to the submission of visa functions.
Tight timeline
In line with 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 acquired late, and the time accessible for processing was extraordinarily restricted.
“We usually require a minimal of 5 working days to course of and examine visa functions,” he defined. “Sadly, because of the Might Day vacation from 1-5 Might, we misplaced useful processing time.”
Mr Yang mentioned that originally, 9 Nigerian delegation members had been supposed to journey, however after doc assessment, solely seven had full and acceptable functions.
He mentioned that regardless of the embassy’s shortened timeline, visas for the seven had been authorized and issued on the night of 8 Might, simply hours earlier than the group’s scheduled flight.
“We launched the visas at 5:10 p.m., and their flight was at round 9 p.m. I believe, or earlier,” he mentioned. “The time was extraordinarily tight, however we did every thing we might to fast-track the method.”
Mr Yang additional clarified that the delayed submission considerably constrained the embassy’s potential to course of the functions on time.
“As a bureau, we want 5 days, however we shortened the inspection time to strive our greatest to assist. If the paperwork had arrived earlier than the Might Day vacation, the state of affairs would have been totally different,” he added.
Nevertheless, this narrative seems at odds with the AFN’s official assertion.
In line with 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 mentioned.
General, 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. For the reason that occasion is a relay competitors, all members of the group had been wanted for efficient participation, therefore Nigeria’s choice to withdraw.
No blame video games
Mr Yang emphasised that each the Chinese language facet and the Nigerian delegation tried their finest, and he shunned assigning blame.
“I do not wish to blame anybody,” he acknowledged. “The entire time was simply too quick. Everybody tried their finest, together with our embassy workers and the Nigerian officers.”
He additionally expressed deep disappointment on the consequence, describing the missed alternative as “very unhappy” for each nations.
“The Guangzhou World Relays was an ideal alternative for Nigerian and African athletes. I consider they might have achieved wonderful outcomes,” Mr.Yang mentioned.
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 mentioned clearer communication and earlier preparation can be essential to keep away from comparable incidents sooner or later.
“We hope to enhance communication and coordination going ahead. Higher change of data between our two sides will assist us keep away from this sort of drawback sooner or later. From subsequent time, we wish to be certain that Nigerian groups can journey to China easily for sports activities and cultural exchanges,” he mentioned.
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 implications of the withdrawal are far-reaching. Not solely has Nigeria misplaced an important likelihood 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, vital monetary losses, misplaced qualification alternatives, and devastating psychological results on our athletes who had been able to symbolize Nigeria with delight,” the assertion learn.
The named Nigerian group
About two weeks in the past, the AFN had unveiled the group 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 report 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 important expertise and management within the ladies’s and blended 4x100m relays.
Join free AllAfrica Newsletters
Get the newest in African information delivered straight to your inbox
The boys’s 4x100m group included Alaba Akintola, Karlington Anunagba, Olaoye Folawiyo, Usheoritse Itsekiri, in addition to Ashe and Onwuzurike, whose pace 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 recognized 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 group noticed the return of 400m veterans Chidi Okezie and Ifeanyi Ojeli alongside Samson Nathaniel, Reward Idamadudu, Endurance Okon-George, and Omolara Ogunmakinju, all of whom have represented Nigeria on main world phases.
Subsequent steps
The AFN is now seeking 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 resulting from 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 world sports activities.
