Three of Nigeria’s top track and field athletes—Tobi Amusan, Ese Brume, and Favour Ofili—will not feature in the nation’s lineup for the 2024 World

Athletics Indoor Championships, according to the final entry list released by World Athletics. The event, scheduled for March 21–23 in Nanjing, China, will see a nine-member Nigerian team led by shot put standout Chukwuebuka Enekwechi and 400m sprinter Chidi Okezie. 

Nigeria’s contingent includes seven male and two female athletes competing across high jump, long jump, 400m, shot put, and the men’s 4x400m relay. Notable names on the roster include NCAA women’s indoor high jump champion Temitope Adeshina, African indoor 400m record holder Ezekiel Nathaniel, and Paris 2024 Olympic finalist Prestina Ochonogor. The squad is rounded out by Edidiong Udo, James Onwuka, Ifeanyi Ojeli, and Joshua Caleb. 

The absence of Amusan (world 100m hurdles champion), Brume (Olympic long jump medalist), and Ofili (African 200m record holder) marks a significant shift for Nigeria, which has traditionally relied on their podium potential at global events. No official reason has been provided for their exclusion. 

Globally, the championships will showcase 576 athletes from 127 nations, including 11 defending indoor champions and 20 medalists from the 2024 Paris Olympics. High-profile competitors include world record holders Mondo Duplantis (pole vault), Grant Holloway (60m hurdles), and Yaroslama Mahuchikh (high jump), alongside Olympic champions Jakob Ingebrigtsen (1500m/3000m) and home favorite Gong Lijiao of China, a two-time world shot put champion. 

Defending champions such as Devynne Charlton (60m hurdles) and Miltiadis Tentoglou (long jump) are also set to compete, with many eyeing the event as a critical buildup to the 2024 outdoor season. 

Nigeria’s hopes now rest on Enekwechi, a Commonwealth Games silver medalist, and Okezie, who recently clinched a 400m podium finish at the African Championships. Meanwhile, 20-year-old Adeshina will debut at her first senior global event following her NCAA title win earlier this year. 

The World Athletics Indoor Championships will be streamed live across World Athletics’ digital platforms, with heats beginning Friday, March 21.