Performance Director Celebrates Nigeria’s Remarkable Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games Campaign

After nine days of intense action in Glasgow, Team Nigeria sits 6th on the medal table with 24 Medals (10 Gold, 7 Silver and 7 Bronze).
Performance Director and Athletes Liaison, Victor Okorie, has attributed Nigeria’s outstanding showing in Glasgow to the determination of the country’s athletes and the purposeful leadership of the National Sports Commission, commending NSC Chairman Mallam Shehu Dikko and Director General Hon. Bukola Olopade for prioritizing athlete welfare, preparation and high-performance development.
Okorie said the support provided by the Commission created an environment in which Nigerian athletes could compete with confidence, pride and a renewed belief in what was possible on the international stage.
“This historic accomplishment did not happen by chance. It is the product of visionary leadership, strategic planning and an unwavering commitment to the success of Nigerian athletes,” Okorie said.
“I wish to sincerely commend the Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Mallam Shehu Dikko, and the Director General, Hon. Bukola Olopade, for providing purposeful leadership and creating an environment where our athletes could perform with confidence, pride and belief.
“Their dedication to athlete welfare and high-performance sport has laid the foundation for this remarkable success. On behalf of our athletes, I can confidently say that they are grateful. They have felt the support, encouragement and renewed sense of purpose from the leadership of the National Sports Commission, and that confidence translated into outstanding performances on the field of play.”
Okorie also expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the Federal Government’s support for Nigerian sports, saying the performance in Glasgow demonstrates what can be achieved when athletes receive the necessary backing to compete at the highest level.
“We extend our profound appreciation to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, whose administration’s commitment to the revitalization of Nigerian sports continues to inspire renewed hope and tangible progress.
“This achievement is another demonstration of what can be accomplished when government provides the right support and leadership.”
Team Nigeria secured 10 gold medals despite Glasgow 2026 featuring only 10 sports on the competition programme, compared with previous editions where athletes competed across approximately 19 to 20 sports.
“Today, we are not just celebrating medals; we are celebrating a defining moment in the history of Nigerian sports,” Okorie said.
“What makes this achievement truly exceptional is not just the number of medals won, but the circumstances under which they were won. In previous Commonwealth Games, athletes competed across approximately 19 to 20 sports. Here in Glasgow, only 10 sports were on the programme, almost 50 percent fewer opportunities to win medals.
“Yet, despite having only half the number of sports available, Team Nigeria delivered an extraordinary performance by winning 10 gold medals. Previous editions, with nearly twice as many sports, produced 12 gold medals. That tells the real story of what these athletes have achieved.
“When this achievement is viewed in its proper context, Glasgow 2026 stands as an exceptional Commonwealth Games campaign for Nigeria. It is a triumph of quality over quantity, excellence over circumstance and determination over limitation.”
Okorie stressed that the achievement should not become a reason for complacency but should instead provide the foundation for an even more ambitious phase in Nigeria’s high-performance sports programme.
With the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games now firmly on the horizon, he called for the momentum generated in Glasgow to be sustained through continued investment, preparation and support for Nigerian athletes.
“As we celebrate this historic achievement, we must not become satisfied. Success should inspire even greater ambition.
“Glasgow 2026 is not the finish line; it is the beginning of a new era for Nigerian sports.
“Let us build on this momentum as we prepare for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games. If we continue with this vision, this level of preparation and this unwavering commitment to excellence, I have every confidence that Nigeria will not only surpass this achievement but also rewrite history once again on the Olympic stage.
“The future of Nigerian sports is bright. The foundation has been laid. Together, let us continue to believe, invest and strive for even greater glory.”