Team Nigeria produced a rich medal haul at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games on Saturday, winning one gold, one silver and four bronze medals to consolidate its position as Africa’s highest-ranked nation on the medals table.
The impressive outing lifted Nigeria’s tally to 10 gold, seven silver and six bronze medals (23 overall), keeping the country sixth overall and comfortably ahead of South Africa, which remained 11th with seven gold medals despite having a higher overall medal count.
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The latest surge was aided by Nigeria’s good show in athletics, a sport that has accounted for the bulk of the country’s medals in Glasgow, while judo also added to the celebrations.
Credit: MakingofChampions
Ogazi makes history
The day’s biggest moment belonged to Samuel Ogazi, who produced another commanding display to win the men’s 400 metres title in 44.25 seconds, becoming the first Nigerian man to win Commonwealth Games gold in the event.
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Ogazi narrowly missed the Games record by just 0.01 seconds as he finished ahead of Trinidad and Tobago’s Jereem Richards (44.82s), while South Africa’s Zakithi Nene settled for bronze in 45.21s.
His victory came barely 24 hours after teammate Ezekiel Nathaniel claimed Nigeria’s first-ever men’s 400m hurdles title, further highlighting the country’s growing strength in the one-lap events.
Edidiong Udo, competing in his first Commonwealth Games final, finished eighth in 45.81 seconds.
Ella ends 32-year medal drought
Nigeria celebrated another milestone when Ella Onojuvwevwo claimed bronze in the women’s 400m in 51.00 seconds.
Although she narrowly missed silver by one-hundredth of a second, the 21-year-old ended Nigeria’s 32-year wait for a Commonwealth Games medal in the event.
Before Saturday, the country’s last medal in the women’s 400m came at the 1994 Commonwealth Games when Fatima Yusuf -Olukoju won silver, four years after capturing Nigeria’s only gold in the event.
Usoro earns first international medal
There was more success in the field as Ruth Usoro secured silver in the women’s long jump, the first major international medal of her career.
Credit: Tunde Eludini
Usoro produced a wind-assisted leap of 6.87 metres with her opening attempt, a mark that remained good enough for second place despite later fouls.
England’s Jazmin Sawyers won gold with 6.93 metres.
The performance represented a significant improvement for Usoro, who finished sixth at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.
Relay team settles for bronze
Nigeria also reached the podium in the men’s 4x100m relay.
The quartet of Favour Ashe, Kayinsola Ajayi, Nicholas Fakorede and Udodi Onwuzurike clocked a season’s best 38.12 seconds to finish third.
The Nigerian team was briefly promoted to silver after Canada was initially disqualified, but the Canadians successfully appealed the decision and reclaimed second place, leaving Nigeria with bronze.
Credit: Tunde Eludini
Australia won gold in 38.07 seconds, Canada took silver in 38.11 seconds, while Nigeria completed the podium.
The women’s 4x100m quartet of Miracle Oluebube Ezechukwu, Jennifer Chukwuka Obi, Olayinka Olajide and Prestina Ochonogor finished sixth in the final in 43.74 seconds after qualifying from their heat earlier in the day.
Mixed relay adds another bronze
Team Nigeria rounded off its athletics programme with another podium finish in the inaugural mixed 4x400m relay.
The quartet of Ezekiel Nathaniel, Patience Okon-George, Samuel Ogazi and Ella Onojuvwevwo combined to run a season’s best 3:12.85, earning bronze behind Jamaica and England.
ALSO READ: UPDATED: Glasgow 2026: Usoro wins silver as relay quartet settles for bronze after appeal drama
The relay medal capped an outstanding athletics campaign that has seen Nigeria collect medals across sprints, hurdles, relays, jumps, throws and para-athletics.
Ekuta delivers in judo
Nigeria’s final medal of the day came from the judo arena, where Enku Ekuta won bronze in the women’s 63kg category.
After suffering defeat in the quarter-finals, Ekuta battled through the repechage before defeating Zambia’s Rita Kabinda by ippon in the bronze medal contest, sealing victory in just over two minutes.
Her medal added another chapter to Nigeria’s successful showing across multiple sports in Glasgow.
Africa’s leading nation
With one day of competition remaining, Team Nigeria sits sixth on the overall medals table with 10 gold, seven silver and six bronze medals, maintaining its place as the highest-ranked African nation at the Games.
Nigeria’s 10 gold medals have proved decisive in staying ahead of South Africa, which has accumulated more total medals but trails with seven gold medals.
Having already produced Commonwealth champions including Goodness Nwachukwu, Chukwuebuka Enekwechi, Ezekiel Nathaniel and Samuel Ogazi, Team Nigeria heads into the final day with confidence after one of its most successful Commonwealth Games campaigns in recent history.
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