NSC targets 16 gold medals at Commonwealth Games in Glasgow
The Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Hon. Bukola Olopade, has expressed confidence in Team Nigeria's readiness for the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, assuring that the nation's athletes are fully prepared to make history at the competition.
Speaking on the level of preparedness ahead of the Games, Olopade said the Commission has put in place comprehensive measures to ensure Nigeria records its best-ever performance at the Commonwealth Games.
According to him, the NSC is determined to use the Glasgow Games as a benchmark for future international multi sport events, with a strong focus on both podium success and athlete welfare.
"Everything we need for our athletes to be in the best frame of mind for the Games has been put in place from the apparel that they will be donning to the team's pre competition preparations and welfare package. We have been able to sort everything out with the full support of Mr President, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR," Olopade stated.
The NSC boss revealed that athletes currently camping in Abuja are in high spirits, while track and field athletes are expected to join the camp following the successful conclusion of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) trials in Lagos.
"The athletes are in high spirits in their camp in Abuja and their track and field counterparts are joining them, following the successful conclusion of their trials in Lagos by the Athletics Federation of Nigeria, AFN," he added.
Olopade also disclosed that concerns over the availability of some of Nigeria's foreign based stars have been resolved following positive developments regarding travel documentation.
"We are also very excited to announce that the fear of not having our best athletes for the Games has been allayed with the good news we have gotten from the American Embassy."
"We are therefore expecting the likes of Ogazi, Kanyinsola and other of our top athletes based in America to arrive at the team's camp in Abuja by the weekend," he said.
Looking ahead to the competition, the NSC has set an ambitious target of 16 gold medals, a feat that would surpass Nigeria's previous best Commonwealth Games performance of 12 gold medals achieved at Birmingham 2022.
The Nigerian contingent is scheduled to depart for a pre Games training camp in Aberdeen on July 2, ahead of the opening of the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow on July 23.
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