Can Ajayi Lead Nigeria to First Commonwealth Games 4x100m Relay Gold in 44 Years?

Nigeria’s men’s 4x100m relay team will attempt to end a 44-year wait for Commonwealth Games gold when they line up in Saturday evening’s final at Scotstoun Stadium.

The quartet qualified confidently after winning the opening semifinal in 38.46 seconds, ahead of Canada (38.53) and Australia (38.69), booking an automatic place in the final.

Now, Kanyinsola Ajayi, Favour Ashe and their teammates stand on the brink of history.

The last Nigerian men’s sprint relay team to win Commonwealth Games gold was the celebrated quartet of Lawrence Adegbeingbe, Iziaq Adeyanju, Samson Oyeledun and Ikpoto Eseme, who clocked 39.15 seconds to defeat a Canadian team led by Ben Johnson at the 1982 Brisbane Commonwealth Games.

Since that triumph, Nigeria has been searching for another Commonwealth relay title.

Standing in their way are some of the world’s strongest sprint nations.

Olympic bronze medalists South Africa qualified fastest overall in 38.30 seconds, while perennial rivals Ghana (38.40), Canada (38.53), Australia (38.69), England (38.90) and Jamaica (39.13) also advanced to what promises to be a high-quality final.

Having negotiated the heats with authority, Nigeria must now produce another flawless round of baton exchanges if Ajayi his teammates are to write their names alongside the 1982 heroes by delivering the country’s first Commonwealth Games men’s 4x100m gold medal in 44 years.