In a stunning setback, the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) has announced Team Nigeria’s withdrawal from the 2025 World Relays in Guangzhou, China, blaming egregious visa processing delays by Chinese authorities.
Visas were finally issued on May 8—coinciding with the team’s scheduled arrival in Guangzhou—rendering participation impossible.
The AFN condemned what it called a “fundamental failure” of Chinese administrative systems, outlining a series of missteps that derailed Nigeria’s campaign.
The athletics body said applications submitted on April 25 at Chinese embassies in Washington DC, Berlin, and Abuja faced excessive, discriminatory documentation demands far beyond international norms.
A poorly defined requirement for a “Verification Letter of Invitation” sowed confusion, with even Guangzhou’s organizing committee unclear on its own protocols. Despite completed applications, Chinese authorities inexplicably delayed approvals for days, only granting visas at the eleventh hour.
“This is a profound disappointment for our athletes,” the AFN stated, decrying the logistical nightmare that robbed Nigeria of a chance to shine.