Head Coach of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), Solomon Aliyu, has declared that Team Nigeria’s athletics squad is 95 per cent ready for the 2026 Commonwealth Games, expressing confidence that the athletes are fully on course for a successful outing in Glasgow.
Speaking in an exclusive interview from Team Nigeria’s training camp in Aberdeen, Scotland, Aliyu said preparations have gone according to plan, with the athletes responding well to training ahead of the multi-sport event.
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According to the experienced coach, the athletes in camp earned their places on merit through impressive performances during the qualification period, making the current squad one of Nigeria’s strongest track and field teams.
“Team Nigeria is about 95 per cent ready for the Games. The athletes are already in Aberdeen for the final phase of preparations before the competition begins, and everything is going according to plan,” Aliyu said.
Aliyu also revealed that the camp has remained free of injuries, crediting the success to the dedication of the medical, coaching and support staff.
“There have been no injuries. We have an excellent support system in place to ensure the athletes remain in top physical and mental condition throughout the camp and into the Games,” he stated.
The AFN head coach commended the National Sports Commission (NSC) for providing what he described as a world-class preparation programme, noting that the Aberdeen camp has given the athletes the ideal environment to fine-tune their performances.
“The preparation put in place by the National Sports Commission has been first-class.
The training camp in Aberdeen has provided the athletes with the right environment to prepare effectively, and we are grateful for the support,” he added.
Drawing on his experience from previous Commonwealth Games, Aliyu stressed that success at the competition requires more than physical fitness, insisting that mental toughness, discipline and self-belief will also be crucial.
He urged the athletes to remain focused, trust their preparation and compete with confidence while proudly representing Nigeria on the international stage.
“Stay focused, trust the preparation process, and compete with confidence. When the time comes, give your very best and represent Nigeria with pride and determination.”
The veteran coach disclosed that while the majority of the athletes are already in camp, a few are still competing in international meets across Europe as part of their final preparations before joining the squad in Scotland.
Looking beyond Glasgow 2026, Aliyu called for sustained investment in grassroots athletics and talent identification programmes across Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
“It is still a work in progress. Nigeria is blessed with enormous sporting talent across the country, and it is impossible to discover every talented athlete at once.
“We must continue to create more opportunities through grassroots competitions and talent identification programmes so that athletes from every part of the country have the chance to develop and represent Nigeria in the future.”
He maintained that while Nigeria possesses an abundance of athletic talent, a more structured grassroots development system is essential to consistently discover and nurture future champions.
With the athletics contingent entering the final phase of preparations in Aberdeen, Team Nigeria will be aiming to build on its proud Commonwealth Games legacy when competition gets underway in Glasgow later this month.
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