Team Nigeria seeks qualification in Botswana as AFN urges Ashe to return
Ismaila sanni
Posted On April 2, 2026
Team Nigeria’s athletics squad is set for a crucial test when they compete at the Botswana National Trials from April 3 to 5. The Nigerians are hoping to boost their qualification tally for the upcoming World Athletics Relays 2026 at the Botswana meet.
With attention on the Botswana National Trials, some top officials of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) are said to be bombarding sprinter Ashe Favour with calls, begging him to return to Team Nigeria.
Ashe, who is one of Nigeria’s fastest sprinters in recent times, joined some other Nigerians in switching allegiance to Qatar, where they hope to advance their track and field career and also gain financially.
Ashe is not yet eligible to run for the Arab country till 2028, but has been competing regularly with athletics clubs during the waiting period.
Some top AFN officials and other concerned Nigerians have been bombarding the athlete with midnight telephone calls promising to double his training grants, promising to give him some incentives he will not regret.
Already, Nigeria has secured spots in four relay events: the women’s 4x100m, women’s 4x400m, mixed 4x100m, and men’s 4x400m, but the mission in Botswana is to add more tickets and fine-tune combinations ahead of the global showdown in May.
The AFN said that the athletes have been sharpening their baton exchanges and race strategies ahead of the Botswana National Trials.
The Botswana Athletics National Championships, held at the National Stadium, will double as the country’s final selection trial for the relays, raising the stakes for home athletes.
All eyes will be on Botswana’s men’s 4x400m relay squad led by sprint sensation Letsile Tebogo, who will run alongside Bayapo Ndori and Collen Kebinatshipi, as they look to lay down a marker on home soil.
Middle-distance stars Tshepiso Masalela and Kemorena Tisang are also expected to light up the track, while the women’s field featuring Same Mohutsiwa and Naledi Monthe promises fireworks.
