By Arinzechi Chukwunonso
Nigeria celebrated a historic night at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games as Kayinsola Ajayi and Temitope Adeshina claimed bronze medals in athletics, rewriting the nation’s record books and boosting Team Nigeria’s medal haul.
Ajayi ended a 20-year wait for a Nigerian medal in the men’s 100 metres, becoming the first Nigerian sprinter since Olusoji Fasuba’s silver medal at the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games to reach the podium.
The Nigerian sprint star finished behind Cameroon’s Emmanuel Eseme, who stormed to gold in a new Commonwealth Games record of 9.83 seconds, while Australia’s Lachlan Kennedy claimed silver in 9.85 seconds.
Ajayi’s achievement came despite a challenging outing for the rest of Nigeria’s sprint contingent. Favour Ashe narrowly missed qualification for the final after placing fifth in his semifinal in 10.07 seconds, while Nicholas Fakorede finished fourth in his semifinal with 10.06 seconds, falling agonisingly short of a place in the final.
In the women’s high jump, Adeshina produced one of the defining performances of Team Nigeria’s campaign, clearing 1.90 metres to win bronze behind Australia’s Eleanor Patterson and Nicola Olyslagers.
The medal ended Nigeria’s 72-year wait for a Commonwealth Games high jump podium finish since Emmanuel Ifeajuna won gold at the 1954 British Empire and Commonwealth Games in Vancouver.
The bronze also made Adeshina the first Nigerian woman ever to win a Commonwealth Games high jump medal. Her achievement marked a remarkable turnaround after finishing 10th on her Games debut four years ago and cemented her place in history as only the third Nigerian to win a Commonwealth Games medal in the event, following Josiah Majekodunmi’s silver in 1950 and Ifeajuna’s historic gold four years later.
Nigeria’s women’s 100 metres campaign, however, was disrupted by misfortune. Blessing Ogundiran was unable to start her semifinal after falling ill, while Rosemary Chukwuma sustained an apparent injury during her race but bravely limped across the finish line. Seventeen-year-old Games debutant Miracle Ezechukwu battled difficult rainy conditions to finish fourth in her semifinal with a time of 11.23 seconds.
There was further encouragement for Team Nigeria in the pool as Abduljabar Adama qualified for the men’s 50 metres butterfly final to keep the country’s medal hopes alive in swimming. In boxing, Patricia Mbata bowed out of the women’s 75kg event after a spirited performance, narrowly losing 3-2 by split decision to England’s Mary Kate Smith in the quarterfinals.
The historic performances by Ajayi and Adeshina underline Nigeria’s growing strength across both track and field events and provided one of the country’s most memorable nights at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games.
