2027 World Athletics Championships: Ajayi, Nathaniel Secure Automatic Qualification for Beijing

Nigeria’s Kanyinsola Ajayi and Ezekiel Nathaniel have secured automatic qualification for the 2027 World Athletics Championships scheduled to hold in Beijing, China.

Ajayi achieved the qualifying standard in the men’s 100 metres after clocking 9.94 seconds at the Silesia Diamond League in Poland.

The performance comfortably met the required qualifying mark and confirmed the 21-year-old sprinter as one of Nigeria’s early representatives for the global athletics championships.

Ajayi has enjoyed an impressive 2026 season, matching Nigeria’s national record of 9.84 seconds and winning the NCAA title.

He has also recorded notable victories against some of the world’s leading sprinters, including reigning world champion Oblique Seville.

His recent performances have strengthened expectations around his prospects on the international stage as he continues to develop into one of Nigeria’s leading sprint stars.

Nathaniel also secured his place at the Beijing championships after recording 47.83 seconds in the men’s 400 metres hurdles.

The performance was sufficient to meet the automatic qualification standard for the event.

Nathaniel is an established figure in Nigerian athletics, having won the Commonwealth Games title and currently holding the Nigerian national record in the 400m hurdles.

He set his personal and national best of 47.11 seconds at the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo.

The qualification of both athletes gives Nigeria two confirmed representatives for the 2027 World Athletics Championships, with the qualification window still open.

More Nigerian athletes are expected to pursue the required standards in their respective events as preparations for the championships intensify.

Ajayi’s qualification in the blue-riband 100m event is particularly significant for Nigeria, given the country’s long-standing tradition in sprinting and its ambitions to remain competitive at major international championships.

Nathaniel’s qualification also provides Nigeria with a strong representative in the 400m hurdles, an event in which he has continued to establish himself at the highest level.

With additional qualification opportunities still available, Nigerian athletes will be hoping to join Ajayi and Nathaniel in Beijing.

The country’s athletics authorities and athletes are expected to continue preparations as the qualification period progresses ahead of the 2027 global showpiece.