The Embassy of China in Nigeria has responded to the claims of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN). In a statement released on Saturday, the embassy denied that delay in visa approval prevented Nigeria from participating at the 2025 World Athletics Relays in Guangzhou China.
The Embassy of China emphasized that the allegations of the AFN are false, describing the claims as “inconsistent with the facts.” Recall that on Friday, the AFN made a shocking disclosure where it accused the Chinese Embassy of delaying visas for athletes.
More so, the body established that it began making moves in February to ensure the timely approval of the travel documents. According to the AFN, Chinese authorities failed to authorize the application on time, leading to the expulsion of Nigeria from the tournament.
On the flip side, the foreign mission narrated on it received a letter from the National Sports Commission of Nigeria on April 24 2025 requesting for help to seek visa approval for its athletes.
As revealed, the letter dated April 22 contained questions on how to prepare the needed documents for the visa application. Further, the move, according to the consulate, is an attempt at securing swift approval for the application.
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Despite making such a move, the Embassy disclosed that the body for Nigerian Athletes didn’t submit the visa applications to the right quarter until May 6, 2025. However, the foreign mission said while the application came in late, it ensured that the visas gained approval in less than two days.
By that, the National Sports Commission received the approval notice two days before the commencement of the event, according to the foreign mission.
China promises to build a strong relationship with Nigeria across all sectors
The Embassy of China in Nigeria emphasized that the swift approval underlines its support for fostering sports and general cooperation between the two nations.
Also, the consulate described how it has always welcomed athletes from African countries to participate in events in China. The Embassy recalled how it has helped in providing adequate and professional assistance to secure visa approvals for Nigerian athletes.
Additionally, the Chinese Embassy said it regrets the absence of athletes from the country in the ongoing sporting event. Lastly, the consulate stressed its readiness to foster its relationship with Nigeria in the sports arena and other key sectors.
