The National Sports Commission (NSC) has thrown down the gauntlet ahead of the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, setting an unprecedented target of 20 gold medals for Team Nigeria.
The target represents a significant leap in ambition for a country that, since its debut at the Commonwealth Games in 1950, has never won more than 12 gold medals at a single edition. Nigeria’s best-ever performance came at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, where Team Nigeria returned with 12 gold, nine silver and 14 bronze medals. The Games were also memorable for Oluwatobi Amusan’s world-record run in the women’s 100m hurdles.
Before Birmingham 2022, Nigeria’s highest medal haul was recorded at the 1994 Commonwealth Games in Victoria, Canada, where the country secured 11 gold, 13 silver and 13 bronze medals.
However, under the leadership of NSC Chairman Shehu Dikko and Director General Bukola Olopade, the Commission is aiming to rewrite history in Glasgow.
Speaking with journalists after a strategic meeting with federation presidents, technical directors and secretaries in Abuja, Olopade revealed that the Commission’s sights are firmly set on a 20-gold haul.
According to him, projections by the Elite Athletes Development and Podium Board suggest Nigeria could win as many as 16 gold medals and about 20 silver medals. Yet, the NSC believes the country can surpass those projections.
“Yusuf Ali, the CEO of the Elite Athletes Development and Podium Board, has carried out a detailed scientific assessment and presented his findings to the federations. His projection remains that Nigeria can win close to 16 gold medals and about 20 silver medals,” Olopade said.
“But I have told him that is not good enough. We must challenge ourselves and get the federations to work harder for us to achieve 20 gold medals. Winning 20 gold medals would place Nigeria among the top five nations at the Commonwealth Games, and that is not too much for Nigerians to ask. Neither is it too much for Nigeria to achieve.”
Should Team Nigeria meet the target in Glasgow, it would not only shatter every previous Commonwealth Games record set by the country but also establish Nigeria as one of the dominant sporting forces within the Commonwealth.
