Nigeria finished the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow as Africa’s leading nation after collecting 24 medals: 10 gold, seven silver and seven bronze.
Key takeaways
- Nigeria’s medal haul was below its 35-medal return from Birmingham 2022, which included 12 golds.
- Australia led the overall standings with 70 gold medals, followed by England and Canada.
- Victor Okorie said Nigeria’s 10 gold medals carried added significance because Glasgow hosted competitions in only 10 sports.
- The National Sports Commission has shifted its focus to strengthening Nigeria’s high-performance structure for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.
Nigeria’s campaign in Glasgow
Nigeria finished ahead of South Africa, Kenya and 11 other African nations that secured at least one medal. The country also placed above several traditionally strong sporting nations, including Jamaica, Wales, Malaysia and South Africa.
Although the result did not match Nigeria’s performance at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, where the team claimed 35 medals with 12 gold, Athletics Federation of Nigeria Performance Director and Athletes Liaison Victor Okorie said the comparison needed to account for the reduced Glasgow programme.
Glasgow featured just 10 sports, whereas earlier editions had typically offered about 19 or 20. Okorie therefore argued that Nigeria’s 10 victories in the gold-medal standings were particularly valuable.
He described the campaign as an outstanding achievement when viewed against its circumstances, saying it demonstrated quality rather than volume, excellence despite restrictions and resolve in the face of limited opportunities.
Okorie praised the National Sports Commission’s leadership, highlighting Chairman Shehu Dikko and Director-General Bukola Olopade for prioritising athletes’ welfare and the development of high-performance sport. He also expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the Federal Government’s backing of Nigerian sport.
In his view, Glasgow should provide a platform for further progress instead of marking the peak of the current cycle. He called for sustained funding and preparation before Los Angeles 2028, describing the Games as the opening chapter of a fresh period for Nigerian sports rather than its conclusion.
The National Sports Commission said its next priority would be to establish a more robust high-performance system capable of preparing Nigerian athletes for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
African medal standings
South Africa occupied 11th place overall, recording seven gold medals, 11 silver and 10 bronze.
Kenya was 13th with three gold, four silver and five bronze medals. Mauritius ranked 15th after winning one gold, two silver and one bronze, while Cameroon came 16th with one gold, one silver and three bronze.
Uganda finished 27th with two silver medals and one bronze, and Namibia was 29th with one silver and two bronze. Ghana placed 30th after taking one silver and one bronze.
Lesotho, Zambia, Gabon, Rwanda and The Gambia each ended the Games with one bronze medal.
