Commonwealth Games: Nigeria Finishes Seventh, Crowned Africa's Best with 24 Medals

Nigeria achieved a strong seventh-place finish at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, securing 24 medals and emerging as the highest-ranked African nation. The team's success was built on 10 gold, seven silver, and seven bronze medals, demonstrating strength across athletics, weightlifting, para-sports, and judo.

Athletics proved to be a major highlight, with several athletes etching their names in the history books. Samuel Ogazi made history by winning Nigeria's first Commonwealth gold in the men's 400 metres. Ezekiel Nathaniel also secured a historic gold in the men's 400m hurdles. Chukwuebuka Enekwechi claimed Nigeria's first-ever gold medal in the men's shot put, while Ruth Usoro earned silver in the women's long jump. Udodi Onwuzurike took silver in the men's 200 metres, and Ella Onojuvwevwo won bronze in the women's 400 metres, ending a 32-year medal drought for Nigeria in the event. World record holder Tobi Amusan added a bronze medal in the women's 100m hurdles to her collection.

Nigeria's relay teams also contributed to the medal tally, with the mixed 4x400m team winning bronze in the event's debut and the men's 4x100m quartet also securing bronze after a disqualification. The nation's weightlifters, para-athletes, and judokas further bolstered the overall medal count, underscoring Nigeria's diverse sporting prowess.

The Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games brought together athletes from over 74 nations and territories, competing in 10 sports. The event saw 1,168 medals awarded across 215 events. Organizers reported significant engagement, with over 630,000 spectators attending and more than 4,000 volunteers contributing to the smooth running of the Games. Social media platforms also saw nearly half a billion views related to the event.