Nigeria’s men’s 4x400m relay team will no longer compete in the final of the event following a ruling from the organisers of the Paris 2024 Olympics.
The quartet of Ifeanyi Emmanuel Ojeli, Ezekiel Nathaniel, Dubem Amene, and Chidi Okezie have been disqualified from the final for a lane violation after stepping on the line in their semifinal on Friday.
Breaking news!!
The Nigerian men’s 4x400m team have been disqualified for stepping on the line in their heat.
Nigeria will no longer compete in the final of men’s 4x400m. pic.twitter.com/TLGgVLzl72
— Making of Champions (@MakingOfChamps) August 9, 2024
The team finished second in Heat 2 of the semifinal, after running a season’s best 2.59.81 to become the first Nigerian side in 24 years to run under 3 minutes in the 4x400m relay event. The last Nigerian team to achieve this feat was the gold medal-winning team at the Sydney 2000 Olympics.
Nigeria’s disqualification gives way for South Africa to progress to the final in a time of 3:03.19. The South Africans, who claimed they were impeded during the race, won their appeal, and they will compete in the final thanks to a referee decision.
South Africa have qualified for the Men’s 4x400m Relay final, after Team Nigeria got disqualified for stepping on the line at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
South Africa filed an appeal stating that they were impeded and won.
Botswana and Zambia also qualified for the final. pic.twitter.com/tbRrvi13UF
— Africa Facts Zone (@AfricaFactsZone) August 9, 2024
This means it will remain three African teams in the event’s final after Botswana (2:57.76) and Zambia (3:00.08) also secured their respective places in the final, with the former winning Heat 1.
