Fatuga Hails Team Nigeria’s Athletics Success as Nathaniel’s Gold Caps Impressive Commonwealth Games Campaign
Oru Leonard
Former athlete and sports entrepreneur Gbolahan Fatuga has praised Team Nigeria’s athletics contingent for its outstanding performance at the ongoing Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, describing the team’s achievements as evidence that Nigeria’s athletics programme is on a steady path of progress.
Fatuga said the impressive performances by Nigerian athletes reflect the commitment of competitors and coaches, as well as the sustained support from government, sports administrators and corporate sponsors.
He noted that Team Nigeria has maintained a strong momentum throughout the competition and is well-positioned to conclude the Games on a high.
According to him, the country’s success at the championships is the result of a collective effort that should be sustained and further strengthened ahead of future international competitions.
“This outcome is a clear showcase of the dedication of our athletes and coaches, the support of government and sports leadership, and the commitment of our individual and corporate sponsors. Going forward, we need to fine-tune and improve upon this model as we prepare for the next major international competition,” Fatuga said.
His commendation followed another memorable outing for Team Nigeria at Scotstoun Stadium, where Ezekiel Nathaniel stormed to victory in the men’s 400m hurdles, delivering Nigeria’s ninth gold medal of the Games and the country’s second athletics gold.
Nathaniel produced a dominant display, clocking 48.47 seconds to finish ahead of England’s Jake Minshull, who claimed silver in 48.99 seconds, while Jamaica’s Assinie Wilson settled for bronze in 49.22 seconds. The victory marked the biggest international triumph of Nathaniel’s career and reinforced Nigeria’s rich pedigree in the 400m hurdles.
Team Nigeria also celebrated another podium finish in the men’s 200 metres, with Udodi Onwuzurike producing a season’s best time of 20.09 seconds to claim the silver medal from lane eight. South Africa’s Sinesipho Dambile won the race in 19.96 seconds.
Earlier, Jami Schlueter rounded off an impressive Commonwealth Games debut by finishing seventh in the men’s decathlon with a total of 7,665 points. After ending the opening day in fourth position, Schlueter remained among the leading contenders before securing a commendable top-seven finish in one of athletics’ most demanding events.
With the latest performances, Team Nigeria’s overall medal haul rose to 18 medals—comprising nine gold, six silver and three bronze—as athletics once again emerged as one of the nation’s strongest medal-winning sports at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games.
