With just two days to the start of the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, Team Nigeria’s sprint squad has received a timely boost as Favour Ashe claimed victory in the men’s 100m at the BFTAA Open in Lee Valley, England.
The Nigerian sprinter crossed the finish line in 10.06 seconds, aided by a +2.6m/s tailwind, to beat Great Britain’s Nicholas Walsh, who finished second in 10.11 seconds. Another Briton, Ade Adewale, placed third in 10.19 seconds.
The victory comes at an ideal time as Ashe prepares to spearhead Nigeria’s campaign in the men’s 4x100m relay, one of the country’s strongest medal prospects at the Glasgow Games.
Nigeria has a proud tradition in men’s sprinting. Olapade Adeniken and Davidson Ezinwa both recorded sixth-place finishes in the men’s 100m at the Barcelona 1992 and Atlanta 1996 Olympic Games, respectively. Olusoji Fasuba later made history by winning the men’s 100m gold medal at the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games, becoming the first Nigerian to achieve the feat.
The country’s success in the men’s 4x100m relay has also been remarkable. At the 1997 World Athletics Championships in Athens, the quartet of Osmond Ezinwa, Olapade Adeniken, Francis Obikwelu and Davidson Ezinwa won silver after setting a Nigerian record of 37.94 seconds in the semi-finals—a mark that still stands today.
Nigeria followed up with another World Championships medal in Seville in 1999, where Innocent Asonze, Francis Obikwelu, Daniel Effiong and Deji Aliu claimed bronze in 37.91 seconds, then an African record. At the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, the Nigerian relay team was later upgraded to silver following Jamaica’s disqualification.
At the Commonwealth Games, Nigeria has consistently featured on the podium in recent editions. Seye Ogunlewe, Mark Jelks, Ogho-Oghene Egwero and Divine Oduduru won bronze at Glasgow 2014, while Ogunlewe, Oduduru, Raymond Ekevwo and Emmanuel Arowolo repeated the feat at Gold Coast 2018.
Nigeria recorded its best-ever Commonwealth Games finish in the men’s 4x100m relay at Birmingham 2022, where Favour Ashe, Raymond Ekevwo, Alaba Akintola and Udodi Onwuzurike claimed silver behind Kenya.
As athletics competition begins on Thursday, July 23, Team Nigeria boasts one of its strongest sprint squads in recent history. The relay pool includes Israel Sunday Okon, Fakorede Adekalu, Kanyinsola Ajayi, Favour Ashe, Alaba Akintola, Udodi Onwuzurike and Chidera Ezeakor, giving the coaching crew several quality options.
With a blend of experienced campaigners and emerging stars, Nigeria heads to Glasgow aiming to secure its first-ever Commonwealth Games gold medal in the men’s 4x100m relay and build on decades of success in the event.
