Team Nigeria athletes eye podium glory at Commonwealth Games

Team Nigeria athletes have expressed confidence ahead of the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, pledging to deliver outstanding performances and make the country proud when the competition begins on July 23.

Some of the athletes made the commitment during a media briefing at the Media Centre of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja, where the National Sports Commission (NSC) and What Media Group unveiled plans for extensive television and digital coverage of the Games.

Among those who addressed journalists were the world’s second-fastest man, Kanyinsola Ajayi, sprint star Rosemary Chukwuma as well as Miracle Ezechukwu. They all stressed that Team Nigeria is fully prepared after months of intensive training and appealed to Nigerians to support the athletes throughout the competition.

Ajayi said the team is determined to produce memorable performances in Glasgow.

“We are going there to give our best. Nigerians should expect exciting and elite performances from Team Nigeria. It is going to be fun, and we hope everyone will support us and follow our journey. We are ready to make the country proud,” Ajayi said.

Ezechukwu acknowledged the role the National Sports Commission has played in supporting the athletes throughout their preparations.

“We sincerely appreciate the efforts and support the NSC has given us. It means a lot to us as athletes, and we are grateful,” she said.

Chukwuma also thanked Nigerians for the opportunity to represent the country, promising that Team Nigeria would compete with determination and commitment.

“We thank everyone for giving us this opportunity to represent Nigeria at the Commonwealth Games. We believe we are ready, and we will give everything we have to make our country proud,” Chukwuma said.

Sprint sensation Favour Ashe echoed the optimism within the camp, saying both his physical condition and mental readiness have improved significantly through the national team’s training programme.

Known as “The Nigerian Nightmare,” the 100 metres and 4×100 metres relay specialist said the team’s preparation has placed the athletes in the right frame of mind ahead of the Games.

“Coming into the Commonwealth Games, I would say my mind is in the right spot. I’m ready mentally and physically. This training camp has been a huge boost for the athletes and has put us in a better mental space. So, yes, I would say I’m ready for the Commonwealth Games.”

Ashe also appealed to Nigerians to rally behind every member of Team Nigeria, describing public support as an important source of motivation.

“I want Nigerians to support us—not just me, but every athlete representing the country. Family and friends should continue to encourage us and support us in every way they can. Thank you so much.”

He added: “We have prepared well and everyone is focused on giving their best. Team Nigeria has a strong tradition at the Commonwealth Games, and we are confident we can compete for medals and make Nigerians proud.”

Similarly, Commonwealth weightlifting champion and African record holder, Onome Omolola Didih, has expressed confidence in Team Nigeria’s ability to deliver medals in Glasgow.

“I am living my dreams representing Nigeria, and I am grateful for the opportunity. The NSC has helped us prepare adequately, while the weightlifting Federation has continued to encourage and support us throughout this journey,” she said.

Didih heads to Glasgow in outstanding form. She finished fourth at the 2024 World Weightlifting Championships before dominating the 53kg event at the 2025 African Weightlifting Championships at Mauritius, where she lifted 92kg in the snatch and 111kg in the clean and jerk for a total of 203kg to win all three gold medals, emerging as Africa’s No. 1-ranked lifter in her weight class.

She successfully defended her continental dominance  at the 2026 African Senior Weightlifting Championships in Egypt, winning another three gold medals in the 53kg category.

Meanwhile, the Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Bukola Olopade, urged the athletes to compete fearlessly and aim for performances that will leave a lasting mark on the global stage.

“I have told the athletes to go out there and compete for Nigeria. They should not just aim to win medals; they should aim to break world records. This is another step in our preparation towards the 2028 Olympic Games,” he said.

The athletes’ confidence comes as Team Nigeria enters the final phase of preparations in Scotland, with officials expressing optimism that the country’s contingent is capable of producing one of its finest outings in Commonwealth Games history.

The Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) Performance Director,  Victor Okorie, also expressed confidence that Team Nigeria is on course to achieve its best-ever performance at the 23rd Commonwealth Games.

Okorie credited the NSC for providing athletes with a world-class training environment in Aberdeen, Scotland, saying early arrival in the United Kingdom has allowed the team to acclimatise properly and fine-tune preparations ahead of competition.

According to him, access to a high-performance training centre provides athletes with world-class facilities, sports science support, medical care, recovery services, nutrition and performance analysis, all of which are critical to success at major international competitions.

“These advantages enable athletes to maximise their physical and mental readiness while minimising the risk of injuries before competition,” he said.

Okorie noted that spending nearly three weeks in Scotland before the opening ceremony would help athletes adjust to the weather, time zone and competition environment while recovering fully from travel fatigue.

Reflecting on Nigeria’s history at the Commonwealth Games, he recalled that the country’s highest overall medal haul came at the 1994 Games in Victoria, Canada, where Team Nigeria won 37 medals, comprising 11 gold, 13 silver and 13 bronze. He also noted that Nigeria recorded its highest gold medal tally at the most recent edition with 12 gold medals and 35 medals overall.

“The last time we competed in Glasgow, we returned home with 36 medals made up of 11 gold, 11 silver and 14 bronze medals. This time, we are poised to cross into the 40s in total medals and into the 20s in gold medals. I believe we will set a new benchmark for Nigerian sports at these Games,” he said.

Former World and Olympic wrestling champion and Bayelsa State Commissioner for Sports, Daniel Igali, also expressed optimism about Team Nigeria’s prospects, saying improved welfare and early preparations have created the right conditions for success.

“From all the information available, I believe there are genuine reasons to be optimistic about Team Nigeria’s prospects at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games.

“Reports indicate that the athletes arrived in the United Kingdom early enough for proper acclimatisation, while allowances and other welfare arrangements have been addressed in good time. As a former athlete, I can say these are not small matters. When athletes are free from welfare concerns, they are able to focus entirely on performance,” he said.

Nigeria is expected to field a formidable team featuring world record holder Tobi Amusan, Kanyinsola Ajayi, shot put star Chukwuebuka Enekwechi, para-powerlifting champion Folashade Oluwafemiayo and other elite athletes across athletics, boxing, cycling, swimming, weightlifting and para sports.

The Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games will run from July 23 to August 2, bringing together more than 3,000 athletes from 74 Commonwealth nations and territories to compete for 215 gold medals across 10 sports.

The Opening Ceremony will take place at The Hydro in Glasgow, where Their Majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla will officially declare the Games open. A major highlight will be King Charles III’s reading of the message placed inside the King’s Baton before the relay began on Commonwealth Day in March 2025. British cycling legend Sir Chris Hoy, the first Batonbearer, will also participate in the ceremony.

The King’s Baton Relay has completed a historic 500-day journey across all 74 Commonwealth nations and territories. For the first time in the history of the Games, all 74 Batons will be reunited in Glasgow, symbolising the unity, diversity and shared values of the Commonwealth.

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