Nigeria Finishes Seventh at 2026 Commonwealth Games, Tops African Nations Skip to content

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Nigeria Finishes Seventh at 2026 Commonwealth Games, Tops African Nations

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Nigeria Finishes Seventh at 2026 Commonwealth Games, Tops African Nations

Team Nigeria achieved its best-ever Commonwealth Games performance at Glasgow 2026, finishing seventh overall with 24 medals (10 gold) and establishing itself as Africa's top nation ahead of South Africa and Kenya. The athletics squad delivered historic breakthroughs, including first-ever Nigerian golds in the men's 400m (Samuel Ogazi), 400m hurdles (Ezekiel Nathaniel), and shot put (Chukwuebuka Enekwechi), alongside Ella Onojuvwevwo ending a 32-year medal drought in the women's 400m. This success signals a strategic shift toward sprint and field-event specialization, proving that targeted investment in athletics yields outsized returns on the global stage. The results also highlight a deepening talent pipeline beyond established stars like Tobi Amusan, positioning Nigeria as a rising powerhouse in Commonwealth sport.

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Nigeria Finishes Seventh at 2026 Commonwealth Games, Tops African Nations

Team Nigeria wrapped up a memorable 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, securing seventh place on the final medal table with a total of 24 medals. The contingent’s 10 gold, seven silver, and seven bronze medals made it the top-performing African nation, ahead of South Africa and Kenya.

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Video Credit: BÓNG ĐÁ HÔM NAY

Australia Dominates, Hosts Scotland in Top Five

Australia led the overall standings with 171 medals, including 70 gold, followed by England in second with 110. Canada took third, with India, hosts Scotland, and New Zealand completing the top six.

Historic Athletics Performances

Nigeria’s athletics team delivered several landmark results. Samuel Ogazi won the men’s 400 metres in 44.25 seconds, becoming the first Nigerian to claim Commonwealth gold in that event. Ezekiel Nathaniel also made history by winning the men’s 400m hurdles, another first for Nigeria.

In the field, Chukwuebuka Enekwechi captured Nigeria’s first-ever Commonwealth gold in the men’s shot put, while Ruth Usoro earned silver in the women’s long jump. On the track, Udodi Onwuzurike took silver in the men’s 200 metres, improving on his sixth-place finish at Birmingham 2022.

Ella Onojuvwevwo ended a 32-year medal drought for Nigeria in the women’s 400 metres with a bronze, and world record holder Tobi Amusan added a bronze in the women’s 100m hurdles.

Relay Success and Other Sports

Nigeria’s relay teams also contributed to the medal count. The mixed 4x400m team took bronze in the event’s Commonwealth Games debut, and the men’s 4x100m quartet won bronze after Canada was disqualified following a successful appeal.

Beyond athletics, Nigerian weightlifters, para-athletes, and judokas played key roles in boosting the country’s total, underscoring the nation’s depth across multiple disciplines.

Games by the Numbers

The Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games featured athletes from more than 74 nations and territories competing across 10 sports, with 1,168 medals awarded in 215 events. Organisers reported over 630,000 spectators attended competitions and festival activities during the 11-day event, while more than 4,000 volunteers contributed over 156,000 hours of service. The Games also generated nearly half a billion views across social media platforms.


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Video Credit: BÓNG ĐÁ HÔM NAY

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