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Team Nigeria has unveiled a formidable 29-member athletics squad for the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, with world record holder Tobi Amusan and in-form sprinter Kanyinsola Ajayi among the headline names.
The Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) announced that the contingent comprises 16 female and 13 male athletes, blending established international stars with emerging talents as Nigeria targets a strong medal haul at the Games.
Other notable athletes in the squad include Chukwuebuka Enekwechi, Rosemary Chukwuma, Favour Ashe, Patience George, Ezekiel Nathaniel, Temitope Adeshina, Esther Joseph and Blessing Ogundiran.
The squad also features rising stars Jessica Oji and Jami Schlueter, who recently switched allegiance to represent Nigeria, a development the federation described as a major boost for the country’s athletics programme.
AFN Second Vice President Akuchukwu Aghazu expressed confidence in the team’s quality and readiness for the competition.
“We are heading to Glasgow with one of the strongest athletics teams Nigeria has assembled in recent years. The athletes have shown tremendous commitment in training, and everyone is focused on representing the country with pride,” Aghazu said.
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She praised Oji and Schlueter for quickly settling into the Nigerian setup and embracing the opportunity to compete for the country.
Aghazu also credited the leadership of the National Sports Commission (NSC), led by Chairman Mallam Shehu Dikko and Director General Bukola Olopade, for creating an environment that has encouraged talented athletes abroad to reconnect with Nigeria.
According to the AFN official, the atmosphere in Team Nigeria’s training camp in Aberdeen has been characterised by unity, discipline and a shared determination to succeed in Glasgow.
The athletics competition at the Commonwealth Games begins on Monday, July 27, and will run for six days.
Meanwhile, AFN President Chief Tonobok Okowa has joined the team in Scotland following official engagements in Egypt and Tunisia. Okowa, who is also a Senior Vice President of the Confederation of African Athletics (CAA), was recently honoured by both the Egypt Athletics Federation and Tunisia Athletics for his contributions to athletics development across Africa.
With a balanced mix of experience and youthful energy, Nigeria will be aiming to reinforce its reputation as one of Africa’s leading athletics nations when competition gets underway in Glasgow.
