AFN Chief Okowa Targets Seven Gold Medals in Athletics as Team Nigeria Settle Down for C’wealth Games Hostilities

The President of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), Chief Tonobok Okowa, says he is happy with the formidable athletics squad to the 2026 Glasgow Commonwealth Games, which officially opens tomorrow, Thursday, 23rd July, 2026.
The 6 days track and field events will run for 6 days from Monday 27th July to Saturday 1st August, 2026 at the Scotstoun Stadium in Glasgow.
Okowa, who is leading the AFN contingent said the arrival of big names as 100m hurdles women world record holder Tobi Amusan, reigning sprint sensation, Kanyinsola Ajayi, Favour Ashe, Olympics 400m men’s finalist, Samuel Ogazi, Rosemary Chukwuma, Shot Put veteran, Chukwuebuka Enekwechi, Javelin thrower Chinecherem Nnamdi, had bolstered the seven gold medals target by the Federation.
Okowa said: “The number of top Nigerian athletes participating at the games is encouraging. This is an excellent spirit and it signaled a new spirit for them to represent their fatherland at international competitions. In camp, we also have US-based Alaba Akintola, Adekalu Fakorede, Udodi Onwuzurike, hurdler Nathaniel Ezekiel, Edidiong Okon Udo, Temitope Adeshina, Prestina Ochonogor, Ruth Usoro, veteran Patience George-Okon, Chidera Ezeakor, Oyesade Oyetade, Obiageri Amaechi, Jessica Orji and Jami Schlueter (Decathlon).Schlueter, will be competing for the first time for Nigeria after he recently switched nationality from England. The teenage sensation, Miracle Ezechukwu is also in the team. I feel very happy with the great spirit in camp and we can easily meet up our target of seven gold medals.”
The AFN’s Technical Director, Mr. Gabriel Okon, who has been leading the athletics training at the Team Nigeria national camp of the National Sports Commission both in Abuja and Aberdeen, said the spirit in camp has been excellent as the athletes gear up for the games.
In a statement signed by the AFN’s Media Coordinator, Dr. Kola Oredipe, Team Nigeria will feature in over 20 events across track and field including 100m men, 100m women, 200m men, 200m women, 400m men, 400m women, 100m hurdles, 4 x 100 metres men’s relay, 4 x 100 metres women’s relay, Mixed 4 x 100 metres relay, Mixed 4 x 400 metres relay, 400m hurdles men, High Jump women, Long Jump women, Triple Jump women, Shot put men, Shot put women, Javelin men, Discus women, Hammer women, Decathlon men.
The AFN President who is the current Senior Vice President of Confederation of African Athletics (CAA), Chief Okowa, will arrive Glasgow on Thursday ahead of the opening ceremony of the 2026 Commonwealth Games.