2 Days to Go: Team Nigeria Eyes Historic Commonwealth Relay Gold After Ashe's London Triumph

Posted : 21 July 2026

With only two days remaining before the opening of the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, Team Nigeria's quest for a historic men's 4x100m relay gold medal has received a timely lift following Favour Ashe's impressive victory at the BFTAA Open in Lee Valley, England.

Ashe underlined his excellent form by winning the men's 100 metres in 10.06 seconds, aided by a +2.6m/s tailwind. He finished ahead of Great Britain's Nicholas Walsh, who clocked 10.11 seconds, while Ade Adewale settled for third place in 10.19 seconds.

The victory further strengthens Nigeria's confidence ahead of the athletics competition, where Ashe is expected to play a pivotal role in the country's relay campaign.

Nigeria arrives in Glasgow with one of its strongest sprint teams in recent memory. The relay pool includes Favour Ashe, Kanyinsola Ajayi, Udodi Onwuzurike, Alaba Akintola, Israel Sunday Okon, Fakorede Adekalu, and Chidera Ezeakor, providing the coaching crew with an enviable selection of speed, experience, and youthful energy.

The country's ambition of securing its first Commonwealth Games men's 4x100m relay gold is built on decades of consistent success in the event.

Nigeria announced itself as a relay powerhouse at the 1997 World Athletics Championships in Athens, where Osmond Ezinwa, Olapade Adeniken, Francis Obikwelu, and Davidson Ezinwa claimed silver after setting a national record of 37.94 seconds in the semifinals—a mark that still stands.

Two years later in Seville, Innocent Asonze, Francis Obikwelu, Daniel Effiong, and Deji Aliu captured bronze while setting what was then an African record of 37.91 seconds.

At the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, the Nigerian quartet of Onyeabor Ngwogu, Obinna Metu, Chinedu Oriala, and Uchenna Emedolu, with Adetoyi Durotoye also part of the relay squad, was later upgraded to the silver medal following Jamaica's disqualification.

The nation has also enjoyed sustained success at the Commonwealth Games. Seye Ogunlewe, Mark Jelks, Ogho-Oghene Egwero, and Divine Oduduru won bronze at Glasgow 2014, while Ogunlewe, Divine Oduduru, Raymond Ekevwo, and Emmanuel Arowolo repeated the feat at Gold Coast 2018.

Nigeria came closest to relay gold at Birmingham 2022, where Favour Ashe, Raymond Ekevwo, Alaba Akintola, and Udodi Onwuzurike combined to win silver behind Kenya.

Beyond the relay, Nigeria has produced some of Africa's finest sprinters. Olapade Adeniken and Davidson Ezinwa both reached Olympic 100m finals with sixth-place finishes at Barcelona 1992 and Atlanta 1996, respectively, while Olusoji Fasuba became the first Nigerian to win the Commonwealth Games men's 100m title when he struck gold in Melbourne in 2006.

With Ashe showing encouraging form just days before the Games and several Nigerian sprinters capable of producing world-class performances, expectations are growing that Glasgow 2026 could finally deliver the elusive Commonwealth Games men's 4x100m relay gold that has long remained within Nigeria's reach. The combination of experience, depth, and current form gives Team Nigeria genuine belief that history can be made when the relay events get underway in Glasgow.

2 Days to Go: Team Nigeria Eyes Historic Commonwealth Relay Gold After Ashe's London Triumph

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