2026 Commonwealth Games: Nigeria Lead Africa on Medal Table, Kenya Edge Placing Standings
Nigeria ended the athletics competition at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games as Africa’s highest-ranked nation on the medal table, although Kenya edged the continent’s placing standings after the conclusion of all 59 events at Scotstoun Stadium.
Team Nigeria collected 13 medals, three gold, six silver and four bronze, to finish fifth overall behind Australia, Jamaica, England and Canada, while outperforming every other African nation in the medal standings.
However, on the placing table, which rewards athletes finishing from first to eighth, Nigeria amassed 107 points to place seventh overall, behind Kenya’s 128 points, making the East Africans the continent’s top nation in terms of overall finalists.
Nigeria’s medal haul was built on outstanding performances across both the track and field events.
Samuel Ogazi led the way by winning the men’s 400m title before helping Nigeria to bronze in the mixed 4x400m relay.
Ruth Usoro claimed silver in the women’s long jump to become the sixth Nigerian woman to win a Commonwealth Games medal in the event, while the men’s 4x100m relay team came within five hundredths of a second of ending the country’s 44-year wait for gold, eventually settling for bronze in one of the closest finishes of the championships.
Beyond the medals, Nigeria demonstrated remarkable consistency throughout the competition. The team recorded four first-place finishes, three second places, six third places, two fourth places, two fifth places, one sixth-place finish and two eighth-place finishes, accounting for its 107 points on the placing table.
Australia dominated the championships, topping both the medal and placing tables with 34 medals (12 gold, 11 silver and 11 bronze) and 378 points respectively.
England finished second on the placing table with 276 points, ahead of Canada (185), Jamaica (179), India (174) and Kenya (128), with Nigeria completing the top seven.
While Kenya’s greater number of finalists across the championships earned it more placing points, Nigeria’s superior conversion of podium opportunities into medals ensured it finished as Africa’s leading nation on the athletics medal table.
