Athletics Federation of Nigeria Performance Director and Athletes Liaison, Victor Okorie, has described Team Nigeria’s performance at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth as the country’s greatest outing in the history of the competition, citing the team’s remarkable achievements despite competing in significantly fewer events than in previous editions.
Nigeria was the best performing African country at the competition which ended on Sunday after finishing 7th on the medals table with 10 gold, 7 silver and 7 bronze medals.
Speaking after the conclusion of the Games, Okorie said the performance represented a historic accomplishment when viewed against the structure of the Glasgow 2026 programme, which featured only 10 sports compared to the 19 or 20 disciplines contested at previous Commonwealth Games.
According to him, the reduced number of medal events made Nigeria’s performance even more significant, noting that earlier editions of the Games, which offered almost twice as many opportunities for medals, yielded only marginally higher gold medal totals.
He attributed the achievement to deliberate planning, effective leadership and a renewed focus on high-performance sport, praising the Chairman of the National Sports Commission Shehu Dikko, and Director General, Honourable Bukola Olopade, for creating an environment that enabled Nigerian athletes to thrive on the international stage.
Okorie also commended President Bola Tinubu for his administration’s continued support for sports development, describing the government’s commitment to the revitalisation of the sector as a key factor behind the team’s success.
While celebrating the historic achievement, Okorie urged stakeholders not to become complacent, insisting that the Glasgow Games should serve as the foundation for sustained excellence rather than the peak of Nigeria’s sporting ambitions.
He called on administrators, government agencies and private sector partners to build on the momentum generated in Glasgow as preparations begin for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.