Nigeria’s top track and field stars, Tobi Amusan, Favour Ofili, and Ese Brume have been left out of the final entry list for the upcoming World Athletics Indoor Championships, set to take place in Nanjing, China.
Their absence leaves a noticeable void in Team Nigeria’s lineup, taking a hit as all three have been among the nation’s most consistent medal contenders on the global stage.
Instead, shot put specialist, Chukwuebuka Enekwechi and 400m runner Chidi Okezie will spearhead a nine-member Nigerian squad at the prestigious competition.
Nigeria’s Team for Nanjing 2025
Despite the absence of Amusan, Ofili, and Brume, Nigeria will still field a competitive team across various events. The full squad consists of:
Chukwuebuka Enekwechi (Men’s Shot Put)
Chidi Okezie (Men’s 400m)
Temitope Adeshina (Women’s High Jump)
Ezekiel Nathaniel (Men’s 400m – African Indoor Record Holder)
Prestina Ochonogor (Paris Olympic Finalist)
Edidiong Udo (Men’s 4x400m Relay)
James Onwuka (Men’s 4x400m Relay)
Ifeanyi Ojeli (Men’s 4x400m Relay)
Joshua Caleb (Men’s 4x400m Relay)
Key Omissions and What It Means for Team Nigeria
The exclusion of Tobi Amusan (women’s 60m hurdles), Favour Ofili (women’s 200m), and Ese Brume (women’s long jump) raises questions about Nigeria’s medal hopes in Nanjing.
Amusan, the world record holder in the 100m hurdles, has been Nigeria’s biggest sprint star in recent years, while Brume, an Olympic and World Championships medalist, has been a dominant force in the long jump.
Ofili, known for her electrifying speed, was also expected to be a strong contender in the sprints.
Their absence means Nigeria’s best hopes for podium finishes rest on Enekwechi in shot put, Adeshina in high jump, and Nathaniel in the men’s 400m.
A Star-Studded Lineup Awaits in Nanjing
The World Athletics Indoor Championships will feature 576 athletes from 127 countries, including 11 individual defending champions and 20 Paris 2024 Olympic medalists.
Among the global stars set to compete are:
Mondo Duplantis (pole vault – world record holder & Olympic champion)
Grant Holloway (60m hurdles – defending champion & Olympic gold medalist)
Miltiadis Tentoglou (long jump – Olympic & world champion)
Sarah Mitton (shot put – world champion)
Yaroslava Mahuchikh (high jump – Olympic champion)
Jakob Ingebrigtsen (1500m & 3000m – Olympic & world record holder)
China will also have strong representation, with homegrown stars such as Olympic and world shot put champion Gong Lijiao and triple jump medalist Zhu Yaming expected to compete in front of their home crowd.
What’s Next for Nigeria?
With 2028 Olympics approaching, Nigeria’s top athletes may be focusing on long-term preparations for the outdoor season rather than risking injury or fatigue at the indoor event.
However, their absence means Nigeria’s medal chances in Nanjing will be significantly reduced.
