Nigeria’s medal haul at the 2026 Commonwealth Games continued to swell after Samuel Ogazi powered home to win the country’s first-ever gold medal in the men’s 400 metres event. His compatriot Ella Onojuvwevwo delivered bronze in the women’s category.
Ogazi, 20, finished in 44.25 seconds to win the race at Scotstoun Stadium in Glasgow, Scotland, on Saturday the Nigerian was just 10 milliseconds away from equalling the event’s record at the Commonwealth Games, a feat achieved by Grenada’s Kirani James, who clocked 44.24 seconds in 2014.
Sunday Bada, in 1994, was the closest Nigerian to a Commonwealth Games gold medal in the men’s 400m event. Bada grabbed the bronze medal in that competition.
In Glasgow, Ogazi entered the competition as the world’s fastest man in 2026. He was drawn in lane five for the final and pushed for gold despite pressure from Jereme Richards of Trinidad and Tobago, who matched him over the first 200m. Ogazi, however, pulled away explosively from his opponents in the final 150m to secure victory.’
Richards settled for silver, while Zakhiti Nene of South Africa came in third to take home the bronze medal.
“It feels good,” he said after winning the title. “I’ve always told myself, ‘Samuel, you have to put Nigeria on the map.’”
“I feel like I am ready for anything right now. I am ready for anybody,” Ogazi noted.
Moments after Ogazi’s exploits, Onojuvwevwo bagged a bronze medal in the women’s 400m final. She finished in 51.00 seconds, trailing behind Jamaica’s Dejaene Oakley and Barbados’ Sada Williams, who grabbed gold and silver, respectively.
Onojuvwevwo is the first Nigerian to win a medal in the women’s 400m at the Commonwealth Games in nearly 30 years.
For her, the support from home was instrumental to achieving the milestone in Glasgow.
“I am really happy. I got a lot of support from back home, from my parents, from my coach, from my teammates, and from everybody in Nigeria. They believe in me, and thanks [to them] for everything,” she said.
