Meet Nigeria’s athletes going for glory at 2026 Commonwealth Games
Team Nigeria will begin their 2026 Commonwealth Games campaign on Friday in Glasgow, Scotland as they aim to surpass their impressive outing in 2022.
In 2022, Nigeria won a total of 35 medals, 12 gold, nine silver and 14 bronze with the 12 gold being the highest tally the country has ever recorded in the history of the games.
The games will kick off from July 24 to August 2 across four venues with 10 sports, including six para sports.
Team Nigeria will participate in 3×3 basketball, 3×3 wheelchair basketball, athletics, boxing, judo, para athletics, para powerlifting, swimming, track cycling and weightlifting.
For the 2026 edition in Scotland, a total of 72 athletes will represent Nigeria, ably led by the Queen of the tracks, Tobi Amusan and Folashade Oluwafemiayo.
Meet Nigerian Athletes For 2026 Commonwealth Games
Athletics: The athletics team is headed by the team captain, Tobi Amusan, Temitope Adeshina, Ruth Usoro, Obi Chukwuka, Rosemary Chukwuma, Patience Okon George, Rosemary Nwankwo, Esther Joseph, Blessing Ogundiran, Jessica Oji, Olayinka Olajide, Oyesade Olatoye, Prestina Ochonogor, Miracle Ezechukwu, Favour Onyah and Obiageri Amaechi in the women’s event.
Rave of the moment, Kanyinsola Ajayi leads the men’s team alongside Alaba Akintola, Favour Ashe, Chukwuebuka Enekwechi, Chidera Ezeakor, Ezekiel Nathaniel, Samuel Ogazi, Israel Okon, Udodi Onwuzurike, Edidiong Udo, Adekalu Fakorede, Jami Schlueter and Chinecherem Nnamdi.
In the Boxing women’s team, Kadijat Ajishola, Patricia Mbata and Blessing Oraekwe will be hoping to make Nigeria proud while the men’s team features Abdulramon Abdulwahab, Ayomide Foly and David Akintola.
Read Also: Egypt shine brightest at ITTF Africa Youth Champs in Accra
Weightlifting: The Nigerian weightlifting team includes Ruth Ayodele, Onome Didih, Rafiatu Lawal, Ruth Nyong and Mary Osijo in the women’s event. The men’s team features Favour Agboro, Adedapo Opadeji and Edidiong Umoafia.
Para powerlifting: The women’s team includes Rita Ferdinand, Esther Nworgu, Alice Owolabi-Oluwafemiayo and Esther Oyema, while the men’s team features Riluwan Idris, Ibrahim Dauda and Roland Ezurulike.
Para athletics: The women’s team includes Destiny Agbo, Eucharia Iyiazi, Goodness Nwachukwu and Christopher Uwak, while the men’s team features Ifeanyi Christian.
3×3 basketball: The men’s team features Marcel Esonwune, Ikechukwu Sean Nwamu, Esosa Okundaye and Robert Ukawuba.
3×3 wheelchair basketball: The women’s team includes Nofisat Adefala, Gbemisola Ijigbamigbe, Chituru Nwaozuzu and Titilayo Olaleye.
Swimming: The women’s team includes Dorcas Oka, while the men’s team features Abduljabar Adama, Colins Obi Ebingha and Clinton Opute.
Judo: The women’s team includes Enku Ekuta, while the men’s team features Michael Agbo, Kehinde Aremu and Taiwo Aremu.
Track cycling: The men’s team features Oyindamola Tijani.
Read Also: CAF doubles WAFCON winners’ prize money to $2m
Gold medallists stand to earn up to 8,000 US dollars in combined rewards and bonuses, while silver and bronze medallists will also receive improved incentives.
In addition, every athlete and official was provided with ₦500,000 in travel support, alongside significantly enhanced local and overseas camping allowances.
Nigeria has competed at fourteen Commonwealth Games, from 1950. Nigeria did not attend four Games, in 1962, 1978 (in protest at New Zealand’s sporting policies towards South Africa during apartheid), 1986 and 1998 (due to suspension).
Nigeria has won at least one medal at every Games attended, including a high of thirty-seven in 1994. The first medal in 1950 was won by Joshua Majekodunmi in the High Jump.
Team Nigeria has won a total of 271 medals in the history of the Commonwealth games with 82 gold, 84 silver and 105 bronze.
With the array of in-form and experienced athletes, Nigerians will be hoping for another medal fest in Glasgow, Scotland in the next 10 days.
