By Sarafina Christopher
The Embassy of China in Nigeria has debunked claims by the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) that visa delays were responsible for Nigeria’s absence at the 2025 World Athletics Relays in Guangzhou, China.
In a statement issued Saturday in Abuja, the Chinese Embassy described the AFN’s accusations as “inconsistent with the facts,” outlining a detailed timeline of events to set the record straight.
According to the Embassy, it received a formal request from Nigeria’s National Sports Commission on April 24, based on a letter dated April 22, seeking visa assistance for the country’s athletes.
“The Embassy promptly engaged the Commission, offering guidance on preparing the required documents to expedite the process,” the statement said.
It further disclosed that visa applications from the athletes were only submitted to the China Visa Application Centre on May 6.
Despite the late submission, the Embassy stated it activated expedited processing and completed the issuance of all visas by May 8—just two days before the event was to begin.
“The Embassy of China in Nigeria has always actively supported people-to-people and sports cooperation between the two countries.
“We have consistently welcomed Nigerian athletes to participate in events in China and provided efficient, professional assistance in processing visa applications,” it said.
While expressing regret that Nigerian athletes would not be competing in this year’s relays, the Embassy stressed that visa issuance is a matter of national sovereignty and that timely submission of complete documentation is critical.
“We regret that the Nigerian athletes were unable to participate in the event in China this time, but the statement issued by the AFN is clearly inconsistent with the facts,” the statement added.
The Embassy reiterated its commitment to fostering friendly exchanges between China and Nigeria, especially in sports, and assured continued cooperation across various sectors.
The AFN had, on Friday, issued a statement blaming the Chinese Embassy for the last-minute visa delays, stating that efforts to secure entry into China began as early as February.
“With deep regret, we, the AFN, announce our withdrawal from the World Relays following unacceptable visa delays by Chinese authorities.
“In spite of our diligent efforts since February, our athletes have faced numerous obstacles,” the federation had said.
