Team Nigeria maintained its position as the highest-ranked African nation on the medals table after another productive day at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, thanks largely to Goodness Nwachukwu’s stunning world record-breaking gold medal.
Although South Africa increased its overall medal haul to 22 compared to Nigeria’s 14, Nwachukwu’s victory lifted Nigeria’s gold medal tally to seven, one more than South Africa’s six, ensuring Team Nigeria retained fifth place overall and remained the continent’s leading nation after Day Six.
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The highlight of Wednesday came in the women’s F42-44/F61-64 discus, where Nwachukwu produced the throw of her career to successfully defend her Commonwealth title.
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The Nigerian saved her best for last, launching the discus 39.66 metres to break her own F42 world record by more than three metres and claim her second consecutive Commonwealth Games gold medal. She finished ahead of Wales’ Funmi Oduwaiye (38.52m) and Australia’s Bree Cronin (36.00m), while fellow Nigerian Destiny Agbo placed fifth with 33.79m.
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Nwachukwu had also been one of the stars of the Birmingham 2022 Games, where she broke her own world record twice on her way to winning gold.
Nigeria added another medal through Jessica Oji, who announced herself on the international stage with a silver medal in the women’s shot put.
The 19-year-old threw 17.87 metres on her Commonwealth Games debut to become the first Nigerian woman to win a Commonwealth Games shot put medal since Vivian Chukwuemeka claimed gold at the 2006 Melbourne Games.
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Track events
On the track, Ezekiel Nathaniel strengthened his status as one of the favourites for the men’s 400m hurdles title after winning his heat in 48.69 seconds, the fastest qualifying time for the final. England’s Jake Minshull (48.88s) and India’s Santhosh Tamilarasan (49.51s) followed him across the line.
Nigeria also enjoyed mixed fortunes in the 200 metres.
Udodi Onwuzurike comfortably won his men’s heat in 20.31 seconds to qualify for the semifinals, while Alaba Akintola narrowly missed out after placing third in 20.96 seconds.
In the women’s event, Jennifer Chukwuka Obi won her heat in a new personal best of 23.26 seconds to advance, while Commonwealth Games debutant Olayinka Olajide also qualified after finishing third in her heat in 23.62 seconds.
There was further encouragement in the field as Chukwuebuka Enekwechi needed just one throw of 20.03 metres to secure automatic qualification for the men’s shot put final.
At the weightlifting venue, Mary Osijo placed fifth in the women’s 86kg category with a combined lift of 225kg, comprising 100kg in the snatch and 125kg in the clean and jerk.
Nigeria’s boxing campaign, however, suffered another setback as Blessing Orakwe bowed out of the women’s 70kg competition after a narrow 3-2 split-decision loss to Australia’s Lekeisha Pergoliti in the quarterfinals.
With seven gold, five silver and two bronze medals, Team Nigeria remains firmly in the top five overall and continues to lead all African countries on the medals table.
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