AFN Targets Unprecedented Seven Athletics Gold Medals at 2026 Commonwealth Games

The Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) is targeting an unprecedented seven gold medals in track and field at the 23rd Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, with Federation President Tonobok Okowa expressing confidence in the quality and depth of Team Nigeria’s athletics squad.

The athletics events, which will run from Monday, July 27 to Saturday, August 1 at Scotstoun Stadium, are expected to provide Nigeria with a major opportunity to contribute significantly to the National Sports Commission’s target of 20 gold medals for Team Nigeria at the Games.

Okowa, who is leading the AFN contingent, said the arrival of several top Nigerian athletes had strengthened the Federation’s belief that the seven-gold target was achievable.

‘The number of top Nigerian athletes participating at the Games is encouraging. This is an excellent spirit and it signals a new spirit for them to represent their fatherland at international competitions,’ Okowa said.

The AFN President said the presence of world record holder and defending Commonwealth champion Tobi Amusan, sprint sensation Kanyinsola Ajayi, Favour Ashe, Olympic 400m finalist Samuel Ogazi, Rosemary Chukwuma, shot put veteran Chukwuebuka Enekwechi and javelin thrower Chinecherem Nnamdi had further boosted Nigeria’s medal prospects.

‘In camp, we also have US-based Alaba Akintola, Adekalu Fakorede, Udodi Onwuzurike, hurdler Nathaniel Ezekiel, Edidiong Okon Udo, Temitope Adeshina, Prestina Ochonogor, Ruth Usoro, veteran Patience George-Okon, Chidera Ezeakor, Oyesade Oyetade, Obiageri Amaechi, Jessica Orji and Jami Schlueter,’ he added.

Schlueter, who recently switched allegiance from England to Nigeria, is set to compete for the country for the first time, while teenage sensation Miracle Ezechukwu is also part of the squad.

‘I feel very happy with the great spirit in camp, and we can easily meet our target of seven gold medals,’ Okowa said.

Nigeria’s strongest medal prospects are expected to come from the men’s 100m, 400m and 400m hurdles, while the country also has realistic chances in the decathlon, the men’s and women’s 4x100m relays and the mixed relays.

In the women’s events, Amusan will be aiming to successfully defend her 100m hurdles title, while Ella Onojuvwevwo and Temitope Adeshina are also considered strong contenders for gold.

Nigeria produced its best track and field performance in Commonwealth Games history at Birmingham 2022, when the athletics team delivered a record god medal haul of five, two more than what the country won in 1990 in Auckland, New Zealand, 1994 in Victoria, Canada and 2014 in Glasgow, Scotland.