CWG: Team Nigeria Finish as Top African Nation Despite Missing Gold Medal Target

Team Nigeria concluded its campaign at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games as the highest-ranked African nation after winning 24 medals, although the contingent fell short of the National Sports Commission’s pre-Games target for gold medals.

Nigeria finished sixth overall with 10 gold, seven silver and seven bronze medals, reaffirming its dominance in athletics, para powerlifting and weightlifting despite the reduced number of sports featured at this year’s Games.

Athletics and para athletics delivered the biggest share of Nigeria’s success, contributing 13 medals, including four gold, three silver and six bronze.

Samuel Ogazi emerged as one of Nigeria’s standout performers after winning the men’s 400 metres in 44.25 seconds, while Ezekiel Nathaniel claimed gold in the men’s 400m hurdles with an impressive 48.47 seconds. Chukwuebuka Enekwechi added another gold in the men’s shot put, while Goodness Nwachukwu successfully defended her para discus title with a world-record throw of 39.66 metres.

Silver medals came through Udodi Onwuzurike in the men’s 200m, Ruth Usoro in the women’s long jump and Jessica Oji in the women’s shot put.

Bronze medals were won by Kanyinsola Ajayi in the men’s 100m, Tobi Amusan in the women’s 100m hurdles, Ella Onojuvwevwo in the women’s 400m and Temitope Adeshina in the women’s high jump. Nigeria also secured bronze in both the men’s 4x100m relay and the mixed 4x400m relay.

Para powerlifting maintained Nigeria’s reputation as a global powerhouse, producing six medals, including gold for Esther Nworgu, Folashade Oluwafemiayo and Riluwan Idris. Oluwafemiayo also set a new world record with a lift of 175kg.

Weightlifting contributed three more gold medals through Edidiong Umoafia, Onome Didih and Rafiatu Lawal, with Lawal establishing new Commonwealth Games records in the snatch, clean and jerk, and total lift.

Nigeria’s only medal outside athletics and the lifting sports came through judoka Enku Ekuta, who claimed bronze in the women’s 63kg category.

Although Nigeria’s medal tally was lower than the 35 medals won at Birmingham 2022 and below the commission’s target of 16 to 20 gold medals, the performances once again highlighted the country’s strength in its traditional sports while exposing the need for improvement in boxing, swimming, cycling and team events ahead of future international competitions.