AFN President Backs Team Nigeria for Medals as Commonwealth Athletics Gets Underway

Posted : 27 July 2026

The President of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), Chief Tonobok Okowa, has expressed confidence in Team Nigeria's ability to deliver medals as the athletics competition begins on Monday at the 23rd Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland.

Okowa said the calibre of athletes representing Nigeria at the Games gives the federation every reason to be optimistic about a successful outing.

"The number of top Nigerian athletes participating at the Games is encouraging. This is an excellent spirit, and it signals a renewed commitment to representing their fatherland at international competitions," he said.

According to the AFN president, the presence of several of Nigeria's leading track and field stars has boosted expectations ahead of the athletics programme.

"The presence of top Nigerian athletes has heightened expectations for the country's track and field squad at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Scotland," Okowa added.

Nigeria's campaign begins with the men's 100m first round at 10:10 a.m., where national champion Favour Ashe will compete in Heat 1 from Lane 4. Ashe arrives in Glasgow with a season's best of 9.93 seconds, making him one of the leading contenders to advance.

Fakorede Adekalu will also feature in the men's 100m, taking to the track in Heat 10 from Lane 3 with a season's best of 9.98 seconds as Nigeria seeks to qualify both sprinters for the next stage.

In the field events, Oyesade Olatoye will contest the women's hammer throw qualification in Group A at 11:40 a.m. The experienced thrower, who has posted a season's best of 70.46m, will attempt to book her place in the final.

Teenage sprinter Miracle Ezechukwu will round off the morning programme for Nigeria in the women's 100m first round. Running in Heat 8 from Lane 8, she will be aiming to build on her season's best of 11.15 seconds and secure qualification.

Nigeria's first medal opportunity in athletics comes later in the evening when Eucharia Iyiazi competes in the women's F57 shot put final at 7:05 p.m.

With experienced campaigners and exciting young talents in action on the opening day, Team Nigeria will be hoping to make an immediate statement and lay a strong foundation for a successful athletics campaign in Glasgow.

AFN President Backs Team Nigeria for Medals as Commonwealth Athletics Gets Underway

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