Nigeria Crowned Africa’s Best At Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games
By Saheed Afolabi
Team Nigeria finished the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games as Africa’s highest-ranked nation, collecting 10 gold, seven silver and seven bronze medals for a total of 24.
The haul placed Nigeria on seventh position overall on the medal table behind Australia, England, Canada, India, hosts Scotland and New Zealand but well clear of every other African country.
The performance reinforced Nigeria’s reputation as a Commonwealth Games powerhouse, particularly in para powerlifting, weightlifting and athletics.
Ten Gold Medalists
Nigeria’s campaign began strongly in the para powerlifting hall. Esther Nworgu took the women’s lightweight title, Folashade Oluwafemiayo dominated the women’s heavyweight class with a world-record 175 kg lift, and Rilwan Idris completed the opening-day gold rush by winning the men’s heavyweight event.
Weightlifting delivered three more golds. Edidiong Joseph Umoafia claimed the men’s 71 kg title, Onome Didih won the women’s 53 kg category, and Rafiatu Folashade Lawal sealed the set in the women’s 58 kg, setting Games records in the snatch, clean and jerk and overall total.
Athletics provided the final four golds. Goodness Nwachukwu won the women’s para discus with a world-record throw, Chukwuebuka Enekwechi took the men’s shot put, Ezekiel Nathaniel triumphed in the men’s 400 m hurdles, and Samuel Ogazi produced one of the Games’ standout moments. Clocking 44.25 seconds, Ogazi became the first Nigerian man to win the Commonwealth 400 m title.
Seven Silver Medalists
Nigeria’s silver medallists were:
– Roland Ezuruike (para powerlifting)
– Esther Oyema (para powerlifting)
– Rita Ferdinand (para powerlifting)
– Ruth Asuquo Nyong (weightlifting)
– Jessica Oji (women’s shot put)
– Udodi Onwuzurike (men’s 200 m)
– Ruth Usoro (women’s long jump)
Oji made history as the first Nigerian woman since 2006 to win a Commonwealth Games medal in the shot put. Usoro improved on her previous Games performance, leaping 6.87 m for silver in the long jump.
Seven Bronze Medalists
The bronze medallists were:
– Kanyinsola Ajayi (men’s 100 m)
– Temitope Adeshina (women’s high jump)
– Tobi Amusan (women’s 100 m hurdles)
– Ella Onojuvwevwo (women’s 400 m)
– Enku Ekuta (judo)
– Men’s 4×100 m relay team
– Mixed 4×400 m relay team
Ajayi’s bronze ended Nigeria’s long wait for a Commonwealth Games men’s 100 m medal. Onojuvwevwo’s podium finish marked another milestone in the women’s 400 m. The mixed 4×400 m team of Ezekiel Nathaniel, Patience Okon-George, Samuel Ogazi and Ella Onojuvwevwo also claimed bronze.
Final Tally
Gold: 10
Silver: 7
Bronze: 7
Total: 24 medals
Nigeria’s 10 gold medals confirmed its position at the top of the African standings in Glasgow and underlined the country’s continued strength across multiple Commonwealth disciplines.
