Team Nigeria emerged as the highest-ranked African nation at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, finishing seventh on the overall medals table with 24 medals comprising 10 gold, seven silver and seven bronze.
According to a statement issued on Monday by the National Sports Commission, Nigeria was the only African country to finish in the top 10 among the 72 participating nations.
South Africa placed 11th, Kenya finished 12th, Mauritius came 14th, while Cameroon ended the Games in 18th position.
Australia retained its dominance by topping the medals table with 70 gold, 45 silver and 56 bronze medals, maintaining the position it occupied at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.
The commission described Nigeria’s performance as remarkable, noting that the Glasgow Games featured fewer sports than previous editions, thereby reducing the country’s traditional medal opportunities.
It noted that sports such as wrestling and table tennis, where Nigeria has historically excelled, were not included in the Glasgow programme. At the Birmingham 2022 Games, Nigeria won six medals in wrestling, including two gold, and four medals in table tennis.
Despite the reduced programme, Team Nigeria achieved several historic milestones.
Enku Ekuta ended Nigeria’s 24-year medal drought in judo after winning bronze in the women’s 63kg event.
Samuel Ogazi also made history by winning gold in the men’s 400m, becoming the first Nigerian to claim the Commonwealth title in the event.
In swimming, Abduljabar Adama reached the semi-finals, a feat the commission described as a significant step forward for the country’s development in the sport.
The Nigerian wheelchair basketball team also impressed on its Commonwealth Games debut, advancing from the group stage to the knockout phase.
In athletics, Temitope Adeshina secured bronze in the women’s high jump to record another milestone for Team Nigeria.
The National Sports Commission said Nigeria’s seventh-place finish and status as Africa’s highest-ranked nation reflected the country’s strong performance despite competing in a Games with fewer medal events than previous editions.
