Team Nigeria heads into the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow with renewed optimism and one of its strongest squads in recent history as the National Sports Commission (NSC) targets an unprecedented haul of 16 to 20 gold medals.
The Games, which run from July 23 to August 2, provide another opportunity for Nigerian athletes to reaffirm the country’s status as one of Africa’s leading sporting nations.
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Armed with world champions, record holders and defending Commonwealth champions, Team Nigeria possesses genuine title contenders across athletics, weightlifting and para-powerlifting.
Here are four athletes expected to spearhead Nigeria’s quest for gold in Scotland.
Tobi Amusan (Athletics – Women’s 100m Hurdles)
Whenever Nigeria’s medal prospects are discussed, Tobi Amusan remains the first name on the list.
The world record holder and two-time Commonwealth champion arrives in Glasgow in outstanding form after producing another statement performance on the Diamond League circuit, underlining her readiness for another major championship.
Amusan is chasing a historic third consecutive Commonwealth Games title in the women’s 100m hurdles, an achievement that would further cement her legacy as one of Africa’s greatest track athletes.
With her experience, consistency and championship pedigree, she enters the competition as one of the overwhelming favourites for gold.
Folashade Oluwafemiayo (Para-Powerlifting)
Team Nigeria captain Folashade Oluwafemiayo continues to redefine excellence in para-powerlifting.
A multiple Paralympic champion, four-time world champion and defending Commonwealth Games gold medalist, Oluwafemiayo has dominated her discipline for years and remains one of the most decorated athletes in the Nigerian contingent.
Her remarkable strength, consistency and ability to perform under pressure make her arguably Nigeria’s safest gold medal prospect in Glasgow.
Rafiatu Lawal (Weightlifting – Women’s 59kg)
Defending Commonwealth champion Rafiatu Lawal returns to the Games determined to retain the title she won in emphatic fashion at Birmingham 2022.
Lawal rewrote the Commonwealth Games record books four years ago, setting new marks in the snatch, clean and jerk, and total lift.
Since then, she has continued her rise with a World Championships silver medal and another African title, establishing herself among the world’s elite lifters.
If she reproduces her best form, the 59kg crown could once again belong to Nigeria.
Kanyinsola Ajayi (Athletics – Men’s 100m)
Few Nigerian athletes have enjoyed a breakthrough season quite like Kanyinsola Ajayi.
The sprint sensation announced himself on the global stage by breaking Nigeria’s long-standing men’s 100m national record with an electrifying 9.84 seconds, eclipsing a mark that had stood for two decades.
Ajayi has since proven he can compete with and defeat, the world’s fastest sprinters, making him one of the biggest medals hopes for Team Nigeria.
A strong performance in Glasgow could see him crowned Commonwealth champion and usher in a new era for Nigerian sprinting.
Nigeria’s Golden Opportunity
With a blend of proven champions and exciting new stars, Team Nigeria appears well-equipped to challenge for one of its best-ever Commonwealth Games performances.
As Glasgow hosts the 23rd edition of the Games, the quartet of Amusan, Oluwafemiayo, Lawal and Ajayi will carry the nation’s highest expectations. Should they produce their best when it matters most, they could inspire Team Nigeria towards its ambitious medal target and another memorable chapter in the country’s sporting history.
