FG rallies Team Nigeria for 2026 Commonwealth Games campaign
July 3, 2026 1:19 am
By Peter Akinbo
President Bola Tinubu, on Thursday, officially bid farewell to Team Nigeria ahead of the country’s participation at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, as the Federal Government reaffirmed its commitment to the nation’s athletes, The PUNCH reports.
The send-off ceremony, held at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, aimed to inspire the Nigerian contingent as they prepare to depart for the United Kingdom, with the President charging the athletes and officials to compete with courage, discipline and the resilient spirit that has become synonymous with Nigeria on the global sporting stage.
Team Nigeria will depart the country on Friday (today) for Aberdeen, Scotland, where the athletes will undergo a three-week intensive training camp before moving to Glasgow for the Games, holding from July 23 to August 2.
Nigeria will compete in ten sports with a 74-member athlete contingent, aiming to surpass its performance at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, where the country finished as Africa’s highest-ranked team with 35 medals: 12 gold, nine silver and 14 bronze.
Ahead of the President’s farewell, officials of the National Institute for Sports and the National Sports Commission had, at the official unveiling of Team Nigeria, projected that the contingent was capable of winning at least 20 gold medals in Glasgow.
Director-General of the NIS, Comrade Philip Shaibu, said the confidence stemmed from a more organised build-up compared to previous outings.
“We thank God for the timely preparation, which is different from what we used to have,” Shaibu said.
“Just as we have charged the athletes, they should go there and win. Everything needed for their preparation and travel has been provided. It is now left for them to appreciate Nigerians and Nigeria by making us proud by winning medals. With what I have seen in them, I am confident they can return with 20 gold medals.”
NSC Chairman, Mallam Shehu Dikko, said the preparations for the Games were the outcome of long-term planning rather than a last-minute rush, projecting between 16 and 20 gold medals for the country.
“This is a clear demonstration of timely preparation. We have been preparing well ahead of the Games, from talent scouting to where we are today,” Dikko said.
“We are taking the team 20 days ahead of the competition to allow them acclimatise to the environment and maximise their performance.”
NSC Director-General, Bukola Olopade, said the commission’s projections were backed by deliberate execution and issued a stern warning to athletes over discipline, insisting no one would be spared regardless of profile.
“This is where we draw the line. No matter how big an athlete is, once he or she misbehaves, such a person will be expelled.
If you spread negative narratives on social media, you will be expelled,” Olopade said.
The athletes have been undergoing a closed camping programme in Abuja ahead of their departure, with President Tinubu’s farewell expected to provide an additional morale boost as Team Nigeria targets another memorable outing on the Commonwealth stage.
Peter, who has been covering sports for PUNCH for close to two years, focuses on combat sports reporting, special features and human angle stories
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