World Records Propel Team Nigeria to Flying Start at Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games

Posted : 26 July 2026

Team Nigeria announced themselves as serious contenders at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow after a remarkable opening day saw the country climb to second on the medals table with three gold medals, three silver medals, and two world records.

The impressive start was powered by Nigeria's para powerlifting team, whose commanding performances placed the country behind only Australia after the first day of competition.

Australia lead the standings with six gold, two silver, and five bronze medals, while Nigeria sit second with three gold and three silver medals, ahead of hosts Scotland and England.

Captain Folashade Oluwafemiayo stole the spotlight by breaking her own world record twice on her way to winning gold in the women's heavyweight event.

The reigning Paralympic champion first lifted 172kg to surpass her previous world mark before producing an even better effort of 175kg on her final attempt to secure victory with 134.8 points.

Another Nigerian, Rita Ferdinand, also entered the record books after lifting 158kg to set a new world record in the women's up to 79kg category. Her performance earned 128.2 points and the silver medal.

Esther Nworgu delivered Nigeria's first gold medal of the Games after dominating the women's lightweight event. She erased the Commonwealth Games record before improving it minutes later to underline her superiority.

Veteran lifter Esther Oyema completed a Nigerian one-two finish in the event by claiming the silver medal.

Riluwan Idris ensured Nigeria finished the day with three gold medals after producing a winning lift of 208kg in the men's heavyweight competition, finishing ahead of England's Matthew Harding and Malaysia's Nicodemus Moses.

Earlier, Paralympian Roland Ezuruike opened Nigeria's medal account with silver in the men's lightweight event after scoring 153.9 points. He narrowly missed a Commonwealth Games record with his final lift.

The National Sports Commission (NSC) rewarded the medal-winning athletes with instant cash incentives as part of its athlete welfare programme, with gold medallists receiving $5,000 each and Ezuruike earning $2,000, alongside additional performance bonuses.

Away from the weightlifting platform, Nigeria's men's 3x3 basketball team made history by recording the country's first-ever Commonwealth Games victory in the discipline with a 21-17 win over the Cayman Islands before falling 21-15 to Australia in their second group match.

There was disappointment in boxing, however, as Abdulramon Abdulwahab exited the men's 65kg event following a unanimous points defeat to Uganda's Nuhu Batte in the Round of 32.

With six medals already secured and world records set by Oluwafemiayo and Ferdinand, Team Nigeria have made a powerful statement at the Glasgow Games. The team will now look to build on its outstanding start as competition continues across athletics, boxing, and other events.

World Records Propel Team Nigeria to Flying Start at Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games

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