After months of meticulous planning, weeks of intensive high-performance training in Aberdeen, Scotland, and years of preparation, Team Nigeria is set to begin its campaign at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, which officially open on Thursday.
The Nigerian contingent has settled into the Games Village following the conclusion of its final training camp in Aberdeen, while the national 3×3 basketball team has arrived from Amsterdam, the Netherlands, to complete the country’s delegation.
Nigeria’s medal quest begins on Friday, July 24, with the Para Powerlifting team expected to set the pace for the country’s campaign. Leading the team is captain Folashade Oluwafemiayo, the reigning Commonwealth Games champion, two-time Paralympic gold medallist, four-time world champion and multiple world record holder. Fresh from defending her Paralympic title in Paris, Oluwafemiayo will be aiming to retain the Commonwealth crown she won in Birmingham.
She will be joined by Rita Ferdinand, one of the sport’s fastest-rising stars. The reigning world champion heads to Glasgow in top form after equalling the women’s world record with a 154kg lift at the African Open Championships in Oran, Algeria, where she also set a new African record in the up to 79kg category.
On the athletics track, Kayinsola Ajayi is one of Nigeria’s brightest medal prospects. The Auburn University sprinter has enjoyed a breakthrough season, winning both the NCAA Indoor 60m and Outdoor 100m titles before equalling the Nigerian 100m record of 9.84 seconds. He further underlined his credentials by defeating reigning world champion Oblique Seville at both the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene and the London Diamond League.
Nigeria will also rely on world record holder Tobi Amusan to spearhead its athletics campaign. The two-time Commonwealth Games champion has returned to top form in 2026, winning Diamond League meetings in Rabat and Paris, where she clocked a season-best 12.28 seconds. Amusan is chasing a historic third consecutive Commonwealth Games title in the women’s 100m hurdles.
In the field events, African record holder Chukwuebuka Enekwechi will lead Nigeria’s challenge in the shot put. The two-time African champion has consistently ranked among the world’s best and remains one of the country’s strongest medal hopefuls.
Nigeria’s boxing campaign will be led by Patricia Mbata, who switched allegiance from Great Britain to Nigeria and quickly established herself as one of Africa’s top middleweight boxers. After winning gold at the African Games and securing qualification through the national trials, Mbata will be making her Commonwealth Games debut with high expectations.
With a squad featuring world champions, Paralympic champions, Commonwealth champions, Diamond League winners, African champions and world record holders, Team Nigeria heads to Glasgow with strong hopes of delivering another successful outing.
The National Sports Commission (NSC) has also boosted the team’s morale through athlete-focused welfare reforms. Under the leadership of Chairman Mallam Shehu Dikko and Director General Hon. Bukola Olopade, the Commission introduced an enhanced welfare and incentive package, including increased daily and camping allowances, improved travel support and higher medal bonuses.
Under the new package, gold medallists can earn up to $8,000 in combined rewards and performance bonuses, while silver and bronze medallists will also receive improved incentives. In addition, every athlete and official received ₦500,000 as travel support, reflecting the Commission’s commitment to improving athlete welfare and rewarding excellence as Team Nigeria pursues success in Glasgow.
