Glasgow 2026: Ogazi, Amusan Spark Team Nigeria’s Finals Surge as Medal Hunt Intensifies
Edidiong Udo, Ella Onojuvwevwo and Chinecherem Nnamdi also advance as Enekwechi, Amaechi and others target podium finishes on Day 7.
Team Nigeria’s quest for more medals at the 2026 Commonwealth Games received a major boost on Wednesday after several of the country’s top athletes produced outstanding performances to secure places in their respective finals.
Leading the charge was Samuel Ogazi, who rewrote the Commonwealth Games record books with a breathtaking run in the men’s 400m semifinals.
The Nigerian quarter-miler blazed to victory in 44.52 seconds, the fastest semifinal ever recorded in the history of the Games, leaving Botswana’s Lee Eppie (45.26s) and Jamaica’s Zandriom Barnes (45.38s) trailing behind.
Ogazi will not be alone in the final as fellow Nigerian Edidiong Udo also sealed qualification.
Running from lane eight, Udo clocked 45.53 seconds, initially crossing the finish line in third before being elevated to second after Jamaica’s Antonio Watson was disqualified, ensuring Nigeria will have two finalists in one of the marquee events.
In the women’s 400m, Ella Onojuvwevwo continued her impressive campaign, powering away from the field over the closing metres to win her semifinal in 51.47 seconds and comfortably book her place in the final.
It was, however, disappointment for experienced campaigners Patience Okon-George and Esther Joseph, whose times of 53.21s and 53.26s respectively were not enough to secure qualification.
Nigeria’s hopes in the field events also received a lift as Chinecherem Prosper Nnamdi battled difficult headwind conditions to qualify for the men’s javelin throw final.
Needing a big final effort, Nnamdi delivered when it mattered most, throwing 75.27 metres on his last attempt to squeeze into the final as the 12th and final qualifier.
World record holder Tobi Amusan once again sent a strong warning to her rivals in the women’s 100m hurdles.
The Nigerian sprint queen cruised to victory in her heat in a wind-assisted 12.19 seconds (+3.8m/s)—the fastest time ever recorded in a Commonwealth Games women’s 100m hurdles race, albeit with illegal wind assistance.
She comfortably finished ahead of South Africa’s Marione Fourie and Jamaica’s Kerrica Hill to book her place in Thursday night’s final.
Day 7: More Medal Opportunities Await
Team Nigeria returns on Thursday with another packed schedule across athletics, para-athletics and track cycling.
Shot put star Chukwuebuka Enekwechi will compete for a medal in the men’s final, while Obiageri Amaechi goes in search of podium success in the women’s discus throw.
Nigeria will also be represented in the men’s and women’s 200m semifinals through Udodi Onwuzurike, Jennifer Obi Chukwuka and Olayinka Olajide, while Unyima Uwak features in the women’s T47 100m para-athletics final.
All eyes, however, will be on Tobi Amusan, whose appearance in the women’s 100m hurdles final headlines Team Nigeria’s Day 7 programme.
With Ogazi, Udo, Onojuvwevwo, Amusan and Nnamdi already safely through to their finals, confidence is growing that Team Nigeria can further improve its medal tally as the athletics competition reaches its decisive stages in Glasgow.
