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•NSC leadership hailed for historic Commonwealth Games performance
Team Nigeria concluded its campaign at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games with one of its most impressive performances in recent history, finishing sixth on the overall medal table with 24 medals comprising 10 gold, seven silver and seven bronze.
Performance Director and Athletes Liaison, Victor Okorie, attributed the team’s success to the resilience of the athletes and the strategic leadership of the National Sports Commission (NSC), praising Chairman Mallam Shehu Dikko and Director General Hon. Bukola Olopade for prioritising athlete welfare, preparation and high-performance development.
According to Okorie, the Commission’s commitment created an enabling environment that allowed Nigerian athletes to compete with confidence and belief on the international stage.
“This historic accomplishment did not happen by chance. It is the product of visionary leadership, strategic planning and an unwavering commitment to the success of Nigerian athletes,” he said.
He noted that the athletes appreciated the support provided by the NSC leadership, adding that the renewed confidence translated into outstanding performances throughout the Games.
Okorie also commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the Federal Government’s continued support for sports, describing the Glasgow outing as evidence of what Nigerian athletes could achieve when given the necessary backing.
He said the administration’s commitment to revitalising sports had inspired renewed hope and tangible progress, adding that the performance in Glasgow underscored the importance of sustained government investment in elite sports.
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Despite competing in a Commonwealth Games programme featuring only 10 sports—almost half the number available at previous editions—Nigeria still won 10 gold medals, a feat Okorie described as remarkable.
He observed that earlier editions of the Games offered about 19 to 20 sports and yielded only slightly higher gold medal totals, making Glasgow 2026 a campaign defined by quality rather than quantity.
“What makes this achievement truly exceptional is not just the number of medals won, but the circumstances under which they were won,” Okorie said, describing the performance as “a triumph of quality over quantity, excellence over circumstance and determination over limitation.”
Looking ahead, Okorie urged stakeholders not to become complacent but to build on the success as preparations begin for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
He stressed that Glasgow 2026 should mark the beginning of a new era for Nigerian sports, calling for sustained investment in athlete development, improved preparation and continued support to enable the country achieve greater success on the Olympic stage.
Team Nigeria’s campaign in Glasgow produced memorable performances across several sports, including Commonwealth titles, Games records, historic podium finishes, personal and season’s bests, as well as breakthrough performances from a new generation of Nigerian athletes.
With the Commonwealth Games now concluded, the National Sports Commission is expected to consolidate the gains made in Glasgow as it intensifies preparations for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, with a renewed focus on strengthening Nigeria’s high-performance sports programme.
