Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Mallam Shehu Dikko, has revealed that Team Nigeria is targeting between 16 and 20 gold medals at the 2026 Commonwealth Games, insisting the country’s preparations have been driven by long-term planning rather than last-minute arrangements.
Dikko said the commission deliberately began planning months ahead of the Games to ensure Nigerian athletes arrive in Scotland in peak condition and are well-positioned to improve on the country’s impressive outing at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
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At the last edition, Nigeria finished as Africa’s highest-ranked nation, winning 35 medals comprising 12 gold, nine silver and 14 bronze.
“Our preparations didn’t start yesterday. This has been a carefully planned process, and we’re confident Team Nigeria can surpass its previous performance,” Dikko said.
The NSC chairman confirmed that Nigeria will compete in 10 sports with a 74-athlete contingent, reflecting the commission’s strategy of focusing on medal prospects while ensuring adequate support for the country’s elite athletes.
As part of the final phase of preparations, Team Nigeria departed for Aberdeen, Scotland, where the athletes will undergo a three-week high-performance training camp before moving to Glasgow for the Games, scheduled to take place from July 23 to August 2.
“We’re aiming for between 16 and 20 gold medals. The athletes have prepared well, and we’re optimistic they will make Nigeria proud on the Commonwealth stage,” he added.
Since the re-establishment of the National Sports Commission, Dikko has consistently emphasised athlete welfare, early planning and high-performance programmes as key pillars of Nigeria’s international sporting ambitions.
With the countdown to the Games underway, expectations are high that Team Nigeria can build on its recent success and once again finish among the leading nations at the Commonwealth Games.
