Team Nigeria continued its impressive run at the 2026 Commonwealth Games, adding another gold and silver medal on Day 8 of the competition as Ezekiel Nathaniel and Udodi Onwuzurike delivered outstanding performances in Glasgow on Friday night.
The latest successes pushed Nigeria’s medal tally to 18, comprising nine gold, six silver and three bronze medals, further strengthening the country’s position among the leading performers at the Games.
Nathaniel produced the biggest moment of the evening, storming to victory in the men’s 400m hurdles with a season-best time of 48.47 seconds.
The Nigerian athlete controlled the race from the early stages and maintained his composure under pressure before pulling clear of the field in the closing metres. England’s Jake Minshull finished second in 48.99 seconds, while Jamaica’s Assinie Wilson settled for bronze after clocking 49.22 seconds.
The victory marked a remarkable redemption story for Nathaniel, who finished sixth in the same event at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games. His return to the podium four years later reflected his growth and improved consistency on the international stage.
Nigeria’s success continued in the men’s 200m final, where Onwuzurike secured a silver medal after a strong performance from the outside lane.
The sprinter recorded a season-best time of 20.09 seconds, benefiting from a favourable +1.7 m/s wind, to finish behind South Africa’s Sinesipho Dambile, who claimed gold in 19.96 seconds.
Earlier on Friday, Nigeria’s Jami Schlueter also impressed on his Commonwealth Games debut, finishing seventh in the men’s decathlon with 7,665 points. Schlueter had entered the second day of competition as a medal contender after finishing fourth on the opening day and maintained a strong showing throughout the gruelling multi-event contest.
With the competition entering its final stages, Team Nigeria heads into the closing days of Glasgow 2026 with growing confidence as athletes continue their push to add more medals and deliver one of the country’s strongest Commonwealth Games performances in recent years.
