Team Nigeria Opens Glasgow 2026 Medal Account as Ezuruike Wins Silver, Earns $4,000 Bonus
Oru Leonard
Team Nigeria has opened its medal tally at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games in style, with Paralympian Roland Ezuruike securing the country’s first medal—a silver in the Men’s Lightweight Group A Para Powerlifting event.
Ezuruike delivered a strong performance, finishing with 153.9 points to claim the silver medal. The Nigerian lifter came within touching distance of gold after attempting a Commonwealth Games record lift of 190kg on his final attempt but narrowly missed, settling for a commendable second-place finish.
His achievement was immediately rewarded under the National Sports Commission’s enhanced athlete welfare and incentive programme. Ezuruike received an instant cash reward of $2,000 for winning silver and qualified for an additional $2,000 performance bonus, bringing his total earnings to $4,000.
The reward underscores the Commission’s commitment to motivating Nigerian athletes through performance-based incentives while encouraging podium finishes at major international competitions.
Meanwhile, Team Nigeria also made history in the 3×3 basketball event, recording its first-ever victory in the discipline at the Commonwealth Games with a hard-fought 21-17 triumph over the Cayman Islands.
Esosa Okundaye and Ikechukwu “Ike” Nwamu led the scoring with six points each, guiding Nigeria to the landmark victory.
Speaking after the match, Nwamu attributed the win to months of intensive preparation.
“It was a great match. We fought hard and our preparations paid off as we won Nigeria’s first game in 3×3 basketball at the Commonwealth Games.
“We are now getting ready for the next two games. Playing for Nigeria means a lot to me, and every opportunity I have to represent my country means everything.
“We thank the National Sports Commission for allowing us to prepare properly. We trained with the Netherlands national team, who won the gold medal in 3×3 basketball at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, and that preparation really helped us.”
Nigeria is scheduled to return to action later in the day against Australia before concluding the group stage against New Zealand in its bid to qualify for the knockout rounds.
There was disappointment in boxing, however, as Ayomide Foly Hassan exited the competition in the Round of 32 after a closely fought contest against Refiloe Thai. Hassan believed he had done enough to secure victory, but the judges awarded the bout to his opponent.
Attention now turns to more medal opportunities for Team Nigeria.
In para powerlifting, Esther Oyema and Esther Nworgu will compete in the women’s lightweight events, while reigning world champion Rita Ferdinand and multiple Paralympic and Commonwealth champion Folashade Oluwafemiayo will spearhead Nigeria’s campaign in the women’s heavyweight categories. Rilwan Idris will also compete in the men’s heavyweight division.
In boxing, Abdulramon Abdulwahab will represent Nigeria in the men’s 68kg category as Team Nigeria continues its quest for more medals at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games.
