Nigeria seventh misses medal target at Glasgow 2026

Team Nigeria concluded its participation in the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow on Sunday, August 2, finishing seventh overall on the final medals table with a total of 24 medals. The haul of 10 gold, seven silver, and seven bronze medals secured Nigeria's position as the highest-ranked African nation at the Games, ahead of South Africa and Kenya.

The result fell short of the ambitious targets set by the National Sports Commission prior to the competition. Officials had projected the team could surpass a goal of 18 gold medals and potentially win as many as 22, citing reforms and government support. The final tally also did not match Nigeria's record-breaking performance at the 2022 Birmingham Games, where the country won 35 medals. Despite this, the Glasgow outing is considered one of Nigeria's best Commonwealth performances in recent years.

The medal count was built on strong showings across athletics, weightlifting, para athletics, para powerlifting, and judo, with several athletes making history. Samuel Ogazi became Nigeria's first Commonwealth champion in the men's 400 meters, winning in 44.25 seconds. Ezekiel Nathaniel secured another historic gold as the first Nigerian...