The arrival of Nigeria’s men’s 100m record holder, Kanyinsola Ajayi sent bolts of excitement tumbling through the country’s 2026 Commonwealth Games preparation camp in Aberdeen, Scotland; as athletes, coaches, officials and fans reckoned that the delegation is now getting closer to perfection.
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Sports247 reports that Ajayi’s arrival coincided with news that the country’s men’s 3×3 basketball squad were set to play another build-up game at their training base in Amsterdam, Netherlands, before joining the main contingent this weekend in Aberdeen.
The last batch of Team Nigeria is expected to link up with the main contingent, which will eventually consist of 74 athletes across 10 sports at the Games holding in Glasgow from July 23rd to August 2nd, for which the National Sports Commission (NSC) earlier set a target of 20 gold medals and a top-five finish.
NSC director-general, Honourable Bukola Olopade’s special assistant on media, Kola Daniels disclosed in a press statement that the athletes are enjoying world-class facilities at Aberdeen Sports Village (ASV), where he also confirmed that camp allowances have been paid in an oderly manner.
Daniel disclosed further, “Team Nigeria’s preparations have reached an advanced stage, with the delegation steadily coming together ahead of the Opening Ceremony on 23 July 2026. The Nigerian contingent has been finalized, while athletes have begun receiving their camping allowances.
“(These are) part of ongoing efforts to ensure optimal preparation and welfare before competition. Several athletes based in the United States, including Kayinsola Ajayi, have arrived in the United Kingdom, where Nigeria’s pre-Games training camp is underway.
“Nigeria’s 3×3 basketball team, currently camping in Amsterdam, has played the first of two scheduled international friendly matches as part of its final build-up to the Games. The second friendly will further sharpen the team’s readiness before it joins the rest of the delegation in Scotland.
“Additional Team Nigeria delegates are expected to arrive in Aberdeen over the weekend, completing the team’s assembly ahead of the Games. Team captains stated that Nigerian athletes remain focused, determined and committed to delivering outstanding performances and making the nation proud.”
On his part, Olopade expressed confidence in the team’s readiness, while also affirming that the importance of early preparations and providing athletes with world-class facilities had once again been underscored by the experience in Aberdeen, towards 11 days of world-class sporting action.
Olopade added, “Our focus in this final preparation phase is ensuring every athlete has access to the best possible training environment. Aberdeen Sports Village offers facilities that meet the highest international standards.
“We are confident our athletes will make the most of this final preparation period. We remain optimistic about Team Nigeria’s prospects in Glasgow and wish every athlete an injury-free and successful campaign.”
