NCAA Champions Ogazi, Nnamdi Join Team Nigeria as Commonwealth Games Gold Hopes Rise

Team Nigeria’s preparations for the 23rd Commonwealth Games have received a major boost with the arrival of Samuel Ogazi, Chinecherem Nnamdi and Rosemary Chukwuma at the team’s training camp in Aberdeen, Scotland.

Ogazi, the reigning NCAA indoor and outdoor 400m champion and the fastest quartermiler in the world so far in 2026, arrived from his base in Alabama, United States, on Wednesday evening.

The 20-year-old’s arrival has heightened optimism that Nigeria could challenge for gold in the men’s 400m.

Also joining the team is another NCAA champion, Chinecherem Nnamdi. The Nigerian javelin record holder’s arrival has further strengthened Team Nigeria’s preparations as the country targets its best-ever performance in Commonwealth Games history.

Sprinter Rosemary Chukwuma is also now in Aberdeen, with her presence boosting the mood in camp ahead of Nigeria’s bid to reclaim the women’s 4x100m relay title.

Nigeria lost the Commonwealth Games relay gold in Birmingham four years ago after one of the team members was sanctioned for a doping violation.

Two other major names are expected to join the team soon.

Ella Onojuvwevwo, the fastest woman in the world in the 400m indoors in 2026, is expected to travel from the United States, while high jumper Temitope Adeshina is currently in Nigeria processing her US visa.

With several of the country’s leading athletes now in camp and more expected to arrive, Team Nigeria’s preparations are gathering momentum ahead of the Games, which begin in Glasgow on July 23.