By Dorcas Francis Koji
Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Bukola Olopade, has expressed confidence that Team Nigeria’s athletics contingent can deliver between seven and eight gold medals as track and field events begin at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland.
With athletics competition officially getting underway, Nigeria will be represented in the men’s and women’s 100 metres heats, the women’s hammer throw, and the women’s F57 para shot put, as the country’s athletes begin their quest for podium finishes.
Leading Nigeria’s challenge in the men’s 100m are reigning national champion Favour Ashe and Fakorede Adekalu, both aiming to progress from the heats into the semi-finals.
In the women’s 100m, Miracle Ezechukwu will carry Nigeria’s hopes, while Sade Olatoye competes in the women’s hammer throw. Eucharia Iyiazi will represent the country in the women’s F57 para shot put.
Speaking in Glasgow ahead of the athletics programme, Olopade said the National Sports Commission remains optimistic about Nigeria’s medal prospects, citing positive projections from the commission’s elite performance board.
“So far, so good. If the projections of the elite board are anything to go by, we are still on track. I was with the athletics team and the spirit is very high. We are hoping for about seven to eight gold medals there,” Olopade said.
The NSC Director General also praised the commitment shown by Team Nigeria’s athletes and officials, describing the country’s recent progress in sports administration as encouraging.
“I am very proud of the athletes and the officials I have worked with over the last one and a half years. It is obvious that Nigeria can stand firm and be counted. I am happy that many people now say they can see a clear identity in Nigerian sports,” he added.
Olopade reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to improving athlete welfare, describing it as one of the key pillars of the current sports administration.
According to him, ensuring athletes receive adequate support and incentives is essential to maintaining high performance and motivating them to excel on the international stage.
“When we said athletes’ welfare was our number one priority, it was because we understood where we were coming from. It is very discouraging when athletes do not feel appreciated. Representing the country is about patriotism, but athletes also deserve to be rewarded,” he stated.
Meanwhile, Team Nigeria added another medal to its growing collection after weightlifter Ruth Nyong produced a remarkable comeback to win silver in the women’s 48kg event.
Nyong finished third in the snatch after recording a personal-best lift of 75kg before overcoming early setbacks in the clean and jerk competition.
After failing her opening two attempts at 93kg, the Nigerian lifter successfully completed the lift on her final attempt to secure the silver medal with a combined total of 168kg.
India’s Mirabai Chanu claimed the gold medal, while Irene Henry of Malaysia settled for bronze.
With the weightlifting competition concluded, Nigeria finished with an impressive haul of three gold medals and four silver medals, providing further momentum for Team Nigeria as the athletics programme gets underway.
As the race for medals intensifies in Glasgow, attention now shifts to the country’s track and field stars, who will be hoping to justify Olopade’s confidence by delivering another successful chapter for Team Nigeria at the Commonwealth Games.
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