Team Nigeria’s Men’s 4×400 meters relay team has faced a major setback at the ongoing Paris Olympics, as they were disqualified from the final after an infraction during their semifinal heat.
The quartet, consisting of Emmanuel Ojeli, Ezekiel Nathaniel, Dubem Amene, and Chidi Okezie, initially delivered an impressive performance, clocking a season’s best of 2:59.81 seconds.
Their time secured them a second-place finish in their semifinal heat on Friday morning, August 9, raising hopes for a strong showing in the final.
However, the team’s elation was short-lived as officials later ruled that the Nigerian athletes had stepped on the line during the race, a violation of the competition’s rules.
This infraction led to their disqualification, costing them a place in the final.
Following the disqualification, Team South Africa, who had finished last in the semifinal heat, were advanced to the final in Nigeria’s place.
The disqualification marks a disappointing turn of events for Team Nigeria, who were seen as strong contenders for a medal in the event. The team’s coaching staff and athletes are yet to release an official statement regarding the incident.
