Team Nigeria Soars to Third With 3 Gold, 3 Silver in Glasgow Commonwealth Games 2026

Nigeria has emerged as Africa's leading nation at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, climbing to third on the medal table after a spectacular para powerlifting campaign delivered three gold and three silver medals.

After the opening two days of the Games, Team Nigeria's Commonwealth Games 2026 medal tally stands at six medals, placing the country behind only Australia and England and making Nigeria the highest-ranked African nation in Glasgow. And all six medals came from para powerlifting. It was a remarkable demonstration of strength from a Nigerian programme that entered Glasgow already carrying one of the Commonwealth's richest para powerlifting traditions.

Nigeria's first medal came through Roland Ezuruike, who claimed silver in the men's lightweight para powerlifting competition after a dramatic battle with England's Mark Swan. Both athletes finished on 153.9 points, with the title ultimately going to Swan after the scores were separated to further decimal places. It was heartbreak for Ezuruike, but it opened the Nigerian medal account.

Esther Nworgu delivered Nigeria's first gold medal of Glasgow 2026 with a commanding performance in the women's lightweight competition, breaking the Commonwealth Games record twice on her way to the title.
Esther Oyema took silver, completing a Nigerian one-two and putting two green-and-white flags on the same podium.


Folashade Oluwafemiayo breaks world record in Glasgow. Folashade Oluwafemiayo produced one of Nigeria's defining performances of Glasgow 2026 in the women's heavyweight event. The Paralympic champion broke the +86kg world record twice, eventually reaching 175kg to secure Nigeria's second gold medal.

Behind her came Rita Ferdinand, and another world record. Ferdinand's 158kg effort established a new +79kg world record and secured another silver for Nigeria, giving the country a stunning gold-silver finish in the women's heavyweight competition.

Nigeria had now produced a one-two finish in both women's para powerlifting events. Riluwan Idris wins Nigeria's third Commonwealth Games gold. Then came Riluwan Idris. With Nigeria already celebrating five medals, Idris entered the men's heavyweight competition carrying an opportunity to turn a brilliant day into an extraordinary one. He delivered.

The Nigerian successfully opened at 200kg before powering through 208kg on his second attempt. His 132.8-point score ultimately proved enough to beat England's Matthew Harding and secure his first Commonwealth Games gold medal. It was Nigeria's third gold and sixth medal of the Games.

From Ezuruike's agonisingly close silver to Nworgu's Games records, Oluwafemiayo and Ferdinand rewriting world records and Idris completing the golden charge, Nigeria turned the para powerlifting platform into its own theatre of excellence.


Gold — Esther Nworgu, Folashade Oluwafemiayo, Riluwan Idris.
Silver — Roland Ezuruike, Esther Oyema, Rita Ferdinand.

And crucially, Nigeria sits third on the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games medal table and first among African nations at this stage of the competition. Nigeria arrived in Scotland as the Commonwealth's most successful para powerlifting nation historically. Its athletes have wasted little time reminding everyone why.