Team Nigeria’s Cyclists To Train In Manchester Ahead Of Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games

In a significant development for Team Nigeria, the National Sports Commission (NSC) has announced that Nigerian cyclists will conduct their training in Manchester in preparation for the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games. This collaboration emerged from a meeting held on Tuesday between the NSC, the Cycling Federation of Nigeria (CFN), and a delegation from the British Cycling Association.

According to a statement issued on Wednesday morning and signed by Dr Mrs Kehinde Ajaye, director of information and public relations, NSC, the British Cycling Association’s delegation, led by Commercial Strategy Manager Izza Ourzik, visited Nigeria to explore avenues for enhancing the sport of cycling in the country.

The discussions focused on three main areas: the development of cycling in Nigeria, fostering a culture of fair competition in both the Olympics and Paralympics, and leveraging cycling to positively impact society.

An agreement was reached to enable Team Nigeria’s cycling contingent to prepare in Manchester, a move that NSC Chairman Mallam Shehu Dikko hailed as a vital step for the team and the sport.

Dikko expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “Our job here is to provide the enablers for sports development in the country. We will make the soil fertile for well-meaning endeavours such as this to thrive. This collaboration will make our society better in the long term. Cycling is not just a sport in the country; it is a way of life.”

He further called for a collaborative effort to make cycling more accessible, challenging the perception of the sport as elitist. “Cycling is seen more as an elitist sport but that is not so. We have to join forces to take this sport to the schools and grassroots and make it less elitist. Let’s take cycling to the people. Let them own it,” he added.

NSC Director-General Hon. Bukola Olopade reiterated the Commission’s commitment to advancing cycling as a sport, highlighting its potential societal benefits. “At the Chef de mission meeting in Glasgow, I was informed that cycling will be part of the sports to be competed for at the Commonwealth Games. I liaised with the CFN and was informed that we have huge prospects in the sport,” he noted. “This collaboration with the British Cycling Association will help us to render more support to this highly thriving sport.”

The meeting also included members of the Cycling Federation of Nigeria, led by President Giandomenico Massari, who expressed optimism about the partnership.

As Team Nigeria gears up for the Glasgow Commonwealth Games, this collaboration marks a promising chapter in the development of cycling in Nigeria, aiming to inspire the next generation of cyclists and promote the sport throughout the nation.