Team Nigeria finished seventh on the overall medals table at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games after winning 24 medals, falling short of the ambitious targets set by the National Sports Commission (NSC) ahead of the competition.
Nigeria ended its campaign with 10 gold, seven silver and seven bronze medals, a haul that also fell below its record-breaking performance at Birmingham 2022, where the country won 35 medals, including 12 gold.
The result came despite the NSC’s optimism before the Games that Team Nigeria was capable of producing a historic outing.
NSC Director General, Bukola Olopade, had projected that Nigeria could surpass the 18-gold target under the Elite Athletes Podium Finish initiative and win as many as 22 gold medals.
Olopade had attributed the optimism to reforms introduced by NSC Chairman, Shehu Dikko, as well as support from President Bola Tinubu.
While the target ultimately proved beyond Nigeria, the team still produced notable performances across athletics, weightlifting, judo, swimming, para athletics and para powerlifting.
Samuel Ogazi delivered one of the biggest highlights, making history as Nigeria’s first Commonwealth Games champion in the men’s 400m after clocking 44.25 seconds.
Ezekiel Nathaniel secured another athletics gold in the men’s 400m hurdles with a time of 48.47 seconds, while Chukwuebuka Enekwechi became the first Nigerian to win the Commonwealth Games men’s shot put title after throwing 21.07 metres.
Nigeria also secured athletics medals through Ella Onojuvwevwo, who won bronze in the women’s 400m; Ruth Usoro, who claimed silver in the women’s long jump; Udodi Onwuzurike, who took silver in the men’s 200m; and Kayinsola Ajayi, whose bronze in the men’s 100m ended Nigeria’s 20-year wait for a medal in the event.
The men’s 4x100m relay team and mixed 4x400m relay team added two more bronze medals to the athletics tally.
Outside athletics, Enku Ekuta ended Nigeria’s 24-year wait for a Commonwealth Games judo medal by winning bronze in the women’s -63kg category.
The NSC also introduced enhanced financial incentives in an effort to motivate athletes during the Games. Gold medallists received $10,000, while silver and bronze medallists were rewarded with $5,000 and $3,000 respectively.
