By Faith Anisiobi, The Sight News
Nigeria will shift focus to nurturing its next generation of athletics talents as a youthful squad departs for the 2026 World Athletics U20 Championships in Oregon, United States, taking place from August 5 to 9.
Leading Team Nigeria’s campaign are Commonwealth Games athletes Jessica Oji and Miracle Ezechukwu, who are expected to spearhead the country’s quest for medals at the global junior championships.
Ezechukwu, who reached the women’s 100m semifinal at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games and featured in Nigeria’s women’s 4x100m relay team that qualified for the final, will compete in the women’s 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay in Oregon.
Oji heads into the championships in high spirits after winning silver in the women’s shot put at the Commonwealth Games. She will compete in both the women’s shot put and discus throw as she seeks to build on her recent success.
The Nigerian squad features a mix of talented athletes across sprint, hurdles, relay, jumps and field events.
In the women’s 100m, Ezechukwu will compete alongside Rosemary Nwankwo and Lucy Nwankwo, while Success Oyibu and Tejiri Praise Ugoh join Ezechukwu in the 200m.
Becky Ebiyadi, Faith Ezechukwu and Jecinta Lawrence will represent Nigeria in the women’s 400m, with Chika Bakwunye competing in the 100m hurdles.
Nigeria has also assembled strong relay teams. The women’s 4x100m relay squad includes Miracle Ezechukwu, Rosemary Nwankwo, Lucy Nwankwo, Success Oyibu and Chika Bakwunye, while Becky Ebiyadi, Faith Ezechukwu, Jecinta Lawrence and Success Oyibu make up the women’s 4x400m relay team.
On the men’s side, Gift Bright and Tejiri Godwin will compete in the 100m, while Bright teams up with Perfect Faye in the 200m. David Udoh will feature in the 400m, and Precious Opinion will contest the triple jump.
The men’s 4x100m relay pool consists of Gift Bright, Perfect Faye, Tejiri Godwin, Precious Opinion and David Udoh.
The 21st edition of the World Athletics U20 Championships will bring together some of the world’s most promising young athletes, with Oregon once again hosting a major global athletics event after staging the World Athletics Championships in 2022 and the World U20 Championships in 2014.
The National Sports Commission (NSC) expressed confidence that the athletes would build on the momentum generated by Team Nigeria’s impressive performances at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, describing the championships as another important step in developing future senior international stars.
