Ajayi Arrives in Aberdeen as Team Nigeria’s Commonwealth Games Medal Hopes Grow

Team Nigeria’s training camp in Aberdeen gathered momentum on Sunday with the arrival of several key athletics stars ahead of the 23rd Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

New Nigerian 100m record holder and NCAA 60m and 100m champion Kanyinsola Ajayi was among the latest athletes to join the camp after travelling from London, where he clocked his third 9.84 seconds of the season in the 100m.

The 21-year-old sprinter, who will make his Commonwealth Games debut in Glasgow, has emerged as one of the leading medal contenders in the event and is widely regarded as the favourite to win the men’s 100m title.

Also arriving in Aberdeen was Alaba Akintola, the 2021 National Sports Festival 200m champion, who will be aiming to make a strong impression in the sprint events.

Former World U20 champion Udodi Onwuzurike has also joined the Nigerian camp as he prepares to challenge for the men’s 200m gold medal.

Onwuzurike finished sixth in the event four years ago but returns to the Commonwealth Games with greater experience and renewed ambitions.

In the women’s long jump, Ruth Usoro has arrived in Aberdeen as a late addition to the Nigerian team following the withdrawal of defending champion Ese Brume.

The 28-year-old Usoro, who won the NCAA long jump and triple jump titles in 2021, finished sixth at the previous Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.

She will now be hoping to improve on that result and fight for a place on the podium in Glasgow.