Nigeria Targets 20 Gold Medals, Top Five Finish at 2026 Commonwealth Games

The Director-General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Bukola Olopade, has expressed confidence that Team Nigeria can secure a top five finish at the forthcoming Commonwealth Games.

Speaking at the Commonwealth Games Stakeholders’ Meeting in Abuja, Olopade outlined ambitious medal targets and detailed preparations for the country’s athletes.

Nigeria’s highest finish in Commonwealth Games history came in 1994 in Victoria, Canada, when the nation placed fourth overall, its first and only time within the top five. That year, Nigeria also recorded its highest medal tally, winning 37 medals, including 11 gold, 13 silver, and 13 bronze.

Olopade revealed that projections from the Elite Athletes Development and Podium Board suggest Nigeria could win 16 gold and 20 silver medals this year. However, he challenged federations to aim higher, setting a target of at least 20 gold medals to ensure Nigeria ranks among the top five nations.

‘We should target at least 20 gold medals because that would place Nigeria among the top five nations at the Commonwealth Games, and I do not believe that is beyond our capabilities,’ he said.

The NSC has directed all athletes travelling to Abuja for camping to fly rather than travel by road, with the commission covering all transportation expenses.

Athlete welfare has been emphasized as a central pillar of preparations, with expanded apparel packages, improved camping conditions, and enhanced travel arrangements.

‘For the first time, each athlete’s bag will contain close to 20 different apparel items, all of which are prepared and ready for distribution,’ Olopade disclosed.

Camping will begin next Tuesday in Abuja, followed by a meeting with President Bola Tinubu on July 2. The team will then depart for Aberdeen, Scotland, for three and a half weeks of intensive training.

Olopade confirmed that he had personally inspected the facilities to ensure they meet international standards.

Nigeria has won a total of 258 medals at the Commonwealth Games made up of 82 gold, 84 silver, and 105 bronze across 14 editions. The country’s highest gold medal tally came in 2022 with 12, alongside its second-highest overall medal haul of 35.