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๐Ÿ‡ณ๐Ÿ‡ฌ Nigeria /Sports

Glasgow 2026 was Nigeria's best Commonwealth Games, says AFN official

From The Punch · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Team Nigeria achieved its best-ever performance at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, winning 24 medals including 10 gold.
  • The Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) described the outing as the beginning of a new era for Nigerian sports development.
  • Officials attributed the success to deliberate planning, visionary leadership, and improved athlete welfare, while also thanking government support.

Team Nigeria's performance at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow marks a significant milestone, with officials calling it the country's finest outing in the event's history. The team secured 24 medals, 10 gold, seven silver, and seven bronze, finishing seventh on the overall table and emerging as the top-performing African nation.

We are not just celebrating medals; we are celebrating a defining moment in the history of Nigerian sports.

โ€” Victor OkorieVictor Okorie, AFN Performance Director, described the significance of the team's performance.

Victor Okorie, the Athletics Federation of Nigeriaโ€™s Performance Director, hailed the achievement as the dawn of a new era for Nigerian sports. He emphasized that the success transcends the medal count, highlighting the team's excellence despite a reduced Games program featuring only 10 sports compared to the usual 19 or 20.

Glasgow 2026 will go down as Nigeriaโ€™s finest outing in Commonwealth Games history. What makes this achievement truly exceptional is not just the number of medals won, but the circumstances under which they were won.

โ€” Victor OkorieOkorie elaborated on why the 2026 Commonwealth Games performance is considered Nigeria's best.

Okorie attributed this triumph to meticulous planning, strong leadership, and enhanced athlete welfare. He specifically commended the National Sports Commission's Chairman, Mallam Shehu Dikko, and Director General, Hon. Bukola Olopade, for fostering an environment where athletes could compete with confidence and pride. The support from President Bola Tinubu's administration was also credited with restoring athletes' confidence.

When this achievement is viewed in its proper context, there is no doubt that Glasgow 2026 represents Nigeriaโ€™s most successful Commonwealth Games campaign ever.

โ€” Victor OkorieOkorie emphasized the historical success of Nigeria's participation in the Glasgow Games.

Looking forward, Okorie urged stakeholders to build upon this success, viewing the Glasgow Games as a foundation for greater achievements on the global stage. He stressed that this accomplishment is a testament to quality, excellence, and determination overcoming limitations.

It is a triumph of quality over quantity, excellence over circumstance, and determination over limitation.

โ€” Victor OkorieOkorie summarized the factors contributing to Nigeria's success at the Commonwealth Games.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Punch in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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