Inside Team Nigeria's 7th-Place Finish: The Story Behind 24 Commonwealth Games Medals

Inside Team Nigeria's 7th-Place Finish: The Story Behind 24 Commonwealth Games Medals 

By Niyi Busari 

Team Nigeria concluded its campaign at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games with a total of 24 medals—10 gold, seven silver and seven bronze—to finish seventh on the overall medals table and emerge as the highest-ranked African nation at the Games, BSNSports.com.ng reports.

Nigeria's medals came from five sports: para powerlifting, weightlifting, athletics, para athletics and judo.

Para powerlifting accounted for six medals, comprising three gold and three silver. Esther Nworgu won gold in the women's lightweight (≤61kg), while Esther Oyema claimed silver in the same category. Folashade Oluwafemiayo secured gold in the women's heavyweight (>61kg), with Rita Ferdinand taking silver. In the men's events, Riluwan Idris captured gold in the heavyweight (>72kg), while Roland Ezuruike earned silver in the lightweight (≤72kg).

Weightlifting contributed four medals, including three gold and one silver. Ruth Ayodele Nyong won silver in the women's 48kg category, while Edidiong Umoafia claimed gold in the men's 71kg event. Onome Didih added another gold in the women's 53kg division, and Rofiat Lawal completed Nigeria's weightlifting campaign with gold in the women's 58kg category.

Athletics produced the largest share of Nigeria's medals with 12, made up of three gold, three silver and six bronze. Jessica Oji won silver in the women's shot put, while Kayinsola Ajayi claimed bronze in the men's 100 metres. Temitope Adeshina earned bronze in the women's high jump, and Chukwuebuka Enekwechi struck gold in the men's shot put.

Tobi Amusan secured bronze in the women's 100m hurdles, while Ezekiel Nathaniel won gold in the men's 400m hurdles. Udodi Onwuzurike claimed silver in the men's 200m before Samuel Ogazi won gold in the men's 400m. Ella Onojuvwevwo added bronze in the women's 400m, while Ruth Usoro took silver in the women's long jump.

Nigeria also secured bronze medals in both the men's 4x100m relay and the mixed 4x400m relay.

In para athletics, Goodness Nwachukwu won gold in the women's F42-44/F61-64 discus throw, adding another Commonwealth title to Nigeria's tally.

Judo produced Nigeria's final medal as Enku Ekuta claimed bronze in the women's -63kg category, ending the country's 24-year wait for a Commonwealth Games judo medal.

Overall, Nigeria's 24 medals comprised six from para powerlifting, four from weightlifting, 12 from athletics, one from para athletics and one from judo.

The final medal haul of 10 gold, seven silver and seven bronze underlined Team Nigeria's impressive performance in Glasgow, with the country finishing seventh overall and leading the African contingent at the 2026 Commonwealth Games.