Glasgow 2026: Team Nigeria Ready To Shine, Says NSC DG Olopade

The Director-General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Hon. Bukola Olopade, has expressed confidence that Team Nigeria is fully prepared to make a strong impact at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland.

With the countdown to the Games gathering pace, Olopade said extensive preparations have been made to ensure Nigeria records one of its most successful outings in the history of the competition.

According to the NSC boss, the Commission is determined to use the Glasgow Games as a benchmark for future international multi-sport events, with a focus on both medal success and athlete welfare.

“Everything required to ensure our athletes are in the best possible condition for the Games has been put in place,” Olopade said.

“From the competition kits they will wear to their training programmes and welfare packages, every detail has been addressed with the full support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

“The athletes are in high spirits at the camp in Abuja, and their track and field counterparts will soon join them following the successful conclusion of the national trials organised by the Athletics Federation of Nigeria in Lagos.”

Olopade also revealed that concerns over the availability of some of Nigeria’s top overseas-based athletes have been resolved.

“We are delighted to announce that fears about not having some of our best athletes available for the Games have been allayed following positive developments from the United States Embassy,” he said.

“We are now expecting the likes of Samuel Ogazi, Kanyinsola Ajayi and several other elite athletes based in the United States to arrive at the team’s training camp in Abuja before the weekend.”

The NSC Director-General disclosed that Nigeria is targeting a record-breaking haul of 16 gold medals in Glasgow, surpassing the nation’s previous best of 12 gold medals achieved at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.

He added that the ambitious target reflects the Commission’s confidence in the quality of athletes selected and the level of preparation undertaken ahead of the Games.

Team Nigeria is scheduled to depart for a pre-Games training camp in Aberdeen on 2 July before the Commonwealth Games officially begin in Glasgow on 23 July 2026.

Olopade expressed optimism that the country’s athletes would rise to the occasion and make Nigeria proud on the international stage.