Nigeria Achieves Best Commonwealth Games Placing Despite Lowest Medal Haul in Two Decades

Team Nigeria recorded its highest finish at the Commonwealth Games in 20 years after placing sixth on the final medal table at Glasgow 2026, despite registering its lowest medal haul since the 2006 Games in Melbourne.

Nigeria concluded the Games with 23 medals, 10 gold, seven silver and six bronze to finish sixth overall, an improvement on its seventh-place finish at Birmingham 2022, eighth at Glasgow 2014, ninth at both Delhi 2010 and Gold Coast 2018, and 12th at Melbourne 2006.

Ironically, the sixth-place finish came with Nigeria’s smallest medal haul in five editions.

The 23 medals won in Glasgow were fewer than the 34 claimed at Birmingham 2022, the 36 won at Glasgow 2014, the 35 secured at Delhi 2010 and the 24 collected at Gold Coast 2018. Only the 17 medals won in Melbourne 2006 were fewer.

The improved placing was not because Nigeria won more gold medals than in previous editions. In fact, the team won 11 gold medals in Delhi 2010, Glasgow 2014 and Birmingham 2022, one more than the 10 captured in Glasgow 2026.

Instead, the higher ranking reflected the more competitive nature of the medal table.

With medals and golds more evenly distributed among the leading nations, Nigeria’s 10 gold medals proved sufficient to lift the country to sixth overall despite its lower overall medal tally.