Team Nigeria kept up its great performance at the 2026 Commonwealth Games on Friday, adding another gold and silver medal to stay as Africa’s top nation on the medals table.
After Day Eight, Nigeria is still in fifth place overall with nine gold, six silver, and three bronze medals, totaling 18 medals. South Africa, Nigeria’s closest African rival, sits in seventh place with seven gold, nine silver, and nine bronze medals.
The latest medals came from athletics. Ezekiel Nathaniel won the men’s 400m hurdles title, while Udodi Onwuzurike secured silver in the men’s 200m.
Nathaniel Makes History
Nathaniel showed one of Nigeria’s best performances at the Games, winning the men’s 400m hurdles in 48.47 seconds.
He finished ahead of England’s Jake Minshull, who clocked 48.99 seconds. Jamaica’s Assinie Wilson took bronze in 49.22 seconds.
Nathaniel not only earned Nigeria’s ninth gold medal in Glasgow but also made history. After finishing sixth in his Commonwealth Games debut in Birmingham four years ago, he became the first Nigerian man to win gold in the 400m hurdles at the Commonwealth Games.
Onwuzurike Delivers Silver
Nigeria’s second medal of the day came from Udodi Onwuzurike. He ran a strong race from lane eight to finish second in the men’s 200m final.
The 21-year-old recorded a season’s best time of 20.09 seconds to win silver, finishing behind South Africa’s Sinesipho Dambile, who won gold with a time of 19.96 seconds.
This medal added to Nigeria’s success in sprinting after Kayinsola Ajayi won bronze in the men’s 100m earlier in the championships.
Relay Team Impresses
More good news came from the track as Nigeria excelled in the heats of the first mixed 4x400m relay.
The team of Edidiong Udo, Esther Elo Joseph, Samuel Ogazi, and Patience Okon-George finished with a time of 3:14.58, the fastest in the heats, sending Nigeria into the final as top qualifiers.
This performance raised hopes for another medal as the athletics events reach their crucial phase.
More Positives in the Field
In the women’s long jump qualification, Ruth Usoro needed just one jump to qualify for the final.
Her leap of 6.77 meters, a season’s best, showed Nigeria’s growing chances of winning medals in field events.
African champion Chinecherem Nnamdi finished 10th in the men’s javelin final with a best throw of 76.29 meters. Decathlete Jami Schlueter had a strong Commonwealth Games debut, placing seventh overall with 7,665 points.
Schlueter spent much of the two-day competition among the top contenders, finishing Day One in fourth place before ending up in the top eight.
In judo, Michael Agbo just missed out on a medal after losing the men’s 66kg bronze-medal match to England’s Michael Fryer.
Africa’s Leading Nation
With nine gold medals, Nigeria leads all other African countries in the Commonwealth Games medals table, despite South Africa having more total medals.
Nigeria’s campaign has produced medals in athletics, weightlifting, and para sports, showing the team’s strength and consistency throughout the Games.
Gold medals have come from Esther Nworgu, Folashade Oluwafemiayo, Riluwan Idris, Edidiong Umoafia, Onome Didih, Rafiatu Folashade Lawal, Goodness Nwachukwu, Chukwuebuka Enekwechi, and now Ezekiel Nathaniel.
The athletics team has also had a great championships, with medals from Nathaniel, Onwuzurike, Tobi Amusan, Temitope Adeshina, Kayinsola Ajayi, and Jessica Oji. Many relay and field event finalists still have chances to add to Nigeria’s medal count.
As the Games move into the final stages, Team Nigeria is on track for one of its best Commonwealth Games performances in recent years, aiming to finish as Africa’s top nation in Glasgow.
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