By Faith Anisiobi, The Sight News
Team Nigeria is set to begin its campaign at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, with the nation’s athletes arriving at the Games Village ahead of the opening of the multi-sport event.
After completing weeks of intensive training in Aberdeen, Scotland, the Nigerian contingent has moved into the Games Village, while the country’s 3×3 basketball team has joined the delegation after arriving from Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Nigeria’s medal quest begins on Friday, July 24, with the Para Powerlifting team expected to open the country’s campaign.
Leading the charge is Team Nigeria captain and reigning Commonwealth Games champion Folashade Oluwafemiayo, who will be aiming to defend the title she won in Birmingham. The two-time Paralympic gold medallist, four-time world champion and multiple world record holder remains one of Nigeria’s brightest medal prospects.
She will be joined by reigning world champion Rita Ferdinand, who heads into the Games in top form after equalling the women’s world record with a 154kg lift and setting a new African record at the African Open Championships in Algeria.
On the athletics track, Nigeria will rely on sprint sensation Kayinsola Ajayi, whose impressive 2026 season has seen him emerge among the world’s fastest men. The Auburn University athlete won both the NCAA Indoor 60m and Outdoor 100m titles before equalling Nigeria’s 100m national record of 9.84 seconds. He also recorded back-to-back victories over reigning world champion Oblique Seville at the Prefontaine Classic and the London Diamond League.
World record holder Tobi Amusan is also expected to spearhead Nigeria’s athletics campaign. The two-time Commonwealth Games champion has enjoyed an impressive resurgence this season, claiming victories at the Rabat and Paris Diamond League meetings and winning another African title. She now seeks a historic third consecutive Commonwealth Games gold medal in the women’s 100m hurdles.
In the field events, African record holder Chukwuebuka Enekwechi will lead Nigeria’s hopes in the men’s shot put, while Patricia Mbata will spearhead the country’s boxing campaign. Mbata, who switched allegiance to Nigeria, qualified for the Games after winning the national trials and is targeting a podium finish in her Commonwealth Games debut.
The National Sports Commission (NSC) expressed confidence that Team Nigeria is well-positioned for another successful outing, citing the presence of world champions, Paralympic champions, Commonwealth champions and African champions across several sports.
The Commission also attributed the team’s high morale to its athlete-focused welfare reforms under the leadership of Chairman Mallam Shehu Dikko and Director General Hon. Bukola Olopade. The reforms include increased daily and camping allowances, enhanced travel support and improved medal incentives, with gold medallists eligible to earn up to $8,000 in combined rewards and bonuses. Every athlete and official also received ₦500,000 in travel support.
Kola Daniel, Special Assistant on Media to the Director General of the National Sports Commission, said in a statement on Wednesday that the enhanced welfare package reflects the Commission’s commitment to prioritizing athletes’ well-being and rewarding excellence as Team Nigeria targets another memorable Commonwealth Games campaign.
