2026 WORLD U-20 ATHLETICS CHAMPIONSHIP: Wrong spikes cost Team Nigeria African U-20 record in dramatic relay disqualification

2026 WORLD U-20 ATHLETICS CHAMPIONSHIP: Wrong spikes cost Team Nigeria African U-20 record in dramatic relay disqualification

Team Nigeria suffered another painful disqualification at the World U-20 Athletics Championships after a wrong pair of spikes cost the country an African and national U-20 record in the mixed 4x100m relay.

The disqualification came on a dramatic penultimate day of competition, when Nigeria’s quartet of Tejiri Godwin, Chigozie Rosemary Nwankwo, Perfect Faye and Miracle Ezechukwu crossed the finish line fourth in the mixed 4x100m final in an impressive 41.77 seconds.

The performance initially went into the record books as a new African and Nigerian U-20 record. However, the celebrations were short-lived after officials disqualified the Nigerian team because Perfect Faye apparently competed in spikes that were not included on the World Athletics approved list.

The setback represents Team Nigeria’s second disqualification at the championships linked to equipment compliance, turning what should have been a landmark achievement into another frustrating episode for the young athletes.

Nigeria had produced a superb performance on the track, with the quartet combining effectively to post a time that would have rewritten the African and national U-20 record books.

The disqualification meant the record was subsequently removed, denying the athletes and Nigeria the reward for their impressive effort.

Despite the disappointment, Team Nigeria continued to show considerable strength in the relay events.

Earlier, the women’s 4x100m team produced one of the most dramatic finishes of the championships to qualify for the final.

Lucy Nwankwo, Chigozie Rosemary Nwankwo, Tejiri Ugoh and Miracle Ezechukwu appeared to be outside the automatic qualifying positions before Ezechukwu produced a sensational anchor leg.

The Nigerian anchor reportedly clocked a remarkable 9.81-second split, powering the team from fourth position into third and securing the final automatic qualifying spot.

Nigeria crossed the line in 43.65 seconds, edging the United States for the crucial third position and booking a place in the final.

There was further relay success in the women’s 4x400m, with Becky Ebiyadi, Jecinta Lawrence, Tejiri Ugoh and Faith Ezechukwu advancing to the final after finishing third in their heat in 3:35.28.

They finished behind Italy and Great Britain but did enough to secure progression.

Meanwhile, Success Oyibu capped an impressive individual campaign in the women’s 200m by finishing fifth in the final in 23.27 seconds.

Oyibu had won both her opening-round heat and semifinal before returning for the final, where she narrowly missed out on a podium finish.

The title went to USA’s Mia Maxwell in 22.37 seconds, completing her 100m and 200m double, while Jamaica’s Shaniya Douglas claimed silver in 22.68 seconds, matching her second-place finish from the 100m.

For Team Nigeria, however, the mixed 4x100m disqualification remained one of the biggest talking points of the day, a stark reminder that technical compliance can be just as important as performance on the track.

The Nigerian quartet had produced a record-breaking performance, but the achievement was erased because of the equipment violation, leaving the team to rue what could have been one of the standout moments of its championships.