South Africa and Botswana are on track to write the next chapter of their rivalry in the final of the men’s 4x400m and 4x100m at the World Relays in Gaborone on Sunday.
While the South African defending champions cruised through their heats on the first day of the event, the Botswana quartets’ passage through to their finals wasn’t quite as smooth.
Udeme Okon, Mthi Mthimkulu, Leendert Koekemoer and Zakithi Nene made sure of their qualification to Sunday’s 4x400m final, and with that a spot at next year’s World Athletics Championships, after sailing to victory in their heat in 2:58.04.
“It is a rematch of some sort [with Botswana]. It’s always a pleasure to race against our neighbouring country. They always put their best foot forward and we’re going to do the same thing tomorrow,” said Nene.
A shaky final baton change from the Botswana team of Lee Bhekempilo Eppie, Justice Oratile, Collen Kebinatshipi and Bayapo Ndori, almost cost them dearly, but they rallied to finish second in their heat behind Australia in 2:57.52 and advance to Sunday’s final.
“I was too relaxed. He knows me. He knows I’m always fast when I come into the exchange but today I was a bit relaxed,” explained 400m world champion Kebinatshipi afterwards. “It’s nothing to worry about. We have to do it tomorrow, and we have to be a bit more serious because tomorrow is the final day.”
While South Africa won the 4x400m at the World Relays in 2025, turning the tables on Botswana’s 2024 result, the Botswana quartet gained the upper hand at the World Athletics Championships later in the year, where they took gold, with the USA claiming silver and South Africa the bronze, making Sunday’s final all the more intriguing.
Also in the mix for the first time will be Zimbabwe after Dennis Bradley Hove, Zuze Leeford, Gerren Muwishi and Thandazani Ndhlovu powered to a new national record of 2:59.01, ensuring Africa will be represented by three teams in Sunday’s final.
“At the end of the day, we came to put Africa on the map, to tell them we are the new kids on the block and we’re here to have fun,” said a thrilled Muwishi after the race.
Meanwhile, the South African men’s 4x100m team looked unfazed by the late withdrawal of Sinesipho Dambile, as Mvuyo Moss, Cheswill Johnson, Bradley Nkoana and Akani Simbine sailed to victory in their heat in 37.68 seconds.
🇿🇦⚡ The 4x100m squad mean business — 37.68s and straight into the 2027 Worlds!#TeamSA #ForMyCountry pic.twitter.com/4lovJXRkFa
— Team South Africa (@OfficialTeamRSA) May 2, 2026
“I don’t think we were nervous about having two new members in the team from our previous team, we just had the nerves of racing,” said Simbine afterwards.
“At the same time, they showed up. It was their first time running with the South African relay team and they represented the country and themselves well. They mastered their legs and showed up when they needed to show up,” he added of Moss and Johnson.
“This is my first global championship and I was nervous, but I told myself I am going to make it. I even told the team that we are champions, we are here to win. We are not here to play. We prepared for this,” added Moss, who ran the opening leg – a role usually fulfilled by the injured Bayanda Walaza.
It was a late charge by Olympic 200m champion Letsile Tebogo that carried Botswana, drawing a roar from the home crowd as they finished second behind the USA in their heat in a new national record of 37.96 seconds.
History for the hosts 🏡🇧🇼
— SuperSport 🏆 (@SuperSportTV) May 2, 2026
Letsile Tebogo anchors Botswana's 4x100m Men's relay as they qualify for the World Championships in 2027 ⏭️#SSAthletics | #WorldRelays pic.twitter.com/MZ7XCJOzfK
“I wouldn't say there was pressure. I am the one who put myself under pressure. I just told them that they just need to bring the baton alive and I will give it my best. I will find the sixth gear in me, which I know I have,” said Tebogo afterwards.
“Looking at the youngsters we have here. For me it is all about getting them motivated and trying to push and grow as many 100m sprinters as possible. With the 4x400m, it is really amazing as we have four guys running under 45 seconds. So the 4x100m is something new that we would like to develop for the country, so that we can also be there at every championship.”
Johnson, Moss, Nkoana and Simbine 👟⚡
— SuperSport 🏆 (@SuperSportTV) May 2, 2026
The South Africans win the final heat of the Men's 4x100m in a time of 37.77 🇿🇦🔥#SSAthletics | #WorldRelays pic.twitter.com/L3FKTpiqU4
The Kenyan quartet of George Mutinda, Mercy Adongo Oketch, Kelvin Kiprotich Tonui and Mercy Chebet gave the continent plenty more to celebrate in the mixed 4x400m heats, setting a new African record of 3:09.87 to book their place in Sunday’s final.
The Nigerian quartet of Favour Oghene Tejiri Ashe, Obi Jennifer Chukwuka, Chidera Ezeakor and Maria Thompson Omokwe were the only African team to book a spot in the mixed 4x100m final. They finished fourth in their heat, but their time of 40.24 seconds was quick enough to see them through as one of the non-automatic qualifiers.
And the South African team of Viwe Jingqi, Kayla la Grange, Gabriella Marais and Joviale Mbishe just missed out on qualification for the women’s 4x100m final but set a new national record of 43.22 seconds, so eclipsing the previous mark that was set 26 years ago.