• Ogundiran is Nigeria’s fastest woman
• Men’s 100m, 400m finals hold today

Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) may have rescinded its earlier threat to drop athletes that failed to show up for the Commonwealth Games National Trials, which will end today in Lagos.

While about 10 U.S.-based athletes were able to attend the trials at YABATECH, Lagos, some others could not make the trip from their various stations in the United States.

Going by AFN’s earlier declaration, such athletes automatically miss out of the Commonwealth Games holding in Glasgow, Scotland from July 21 to August 2.

However, AFN Head Coach, Solomon Aliyu, told The Guardian yesterday that it would be unwise to drop the nation’s best athletes from the trip to Glasgow.

“Yes, it is true the AFN earlier made such declaration that no national trial, no ticket to Glasgow, but the circumstances that led to the absence of majority of the U.S.-based athletes is not their fault,” Aliyu said. “We made a promise to assist them sort out the immigration hurdles to enable them travel in and out of the United States to avoid being trapped in Nigeria, but as we speak, we have not been able to sort everything out. But we are working hard to make sure it is all sorted out soon to enable them to join Team Nigeria for the trip to Glasgow.

“No athlete will want to take such risk of travelling out of his base in the United States and get trapped in Nigeria. Based on that, the AFN is considering it unwise to drop them from the trip to the Commonwealth Games,” Aliyu stated.

Among top Nigerian athletes who could not make the trip to Lagos for the Commonwealth Games national trials are world 100m hurdles record holder, Tobi Amusan, the world’s fastest 400m runner in 2026 with a time of 43.38seconds, 19‑year‑old Samuel Ogazi, new Nigerian 100m record holder at 9.84seconds Kanyinsola Ajayi, 400m hurdles finalist at last year’s World Championships, now holding the national record of 47.11seconds, Nathaniel Ezekiel.

Others include the defending 100m champion Israel Okon, 2021 World U20 champion Udodi Onwuzurike, two‑time national 200m champion, Alaba Akintola, as well as Edidiong Udo, who boasts a 44.91seconds best in the 400m.

U.S.-based women athletes who could not make the trip to Lagos include the nation’s fastest woman at 10.95 seconds, Rosemary Chukwuma, third‑fastest Nigerian sprinter this year Tima Godbless, the world’s fastest woman indoors over 400m in 2026, Ella Onojuvwevwo, high jump record holder and undefeated this season chasing the elusive two metres barrier, Temitope Adeshina, and rising star Adisa Rhoda, who has broken the Nigerian 800m record twice this year.

Ever present long jumper Ese Brume could not also make the trip to Lagos, though she has not made much appearance this season.

Notable among athletes who made the trip to Lagos for the trials are shot putter, Chukwuebuka Enekwechi and 400m runner, Chidi Okezie.

Okezie arrived late from the U.S. due to delay occasioned by thunderstorms, which affected their flight from U.S. to Lagos last Friday. He missed the 400m heat on Sunday, but in accordance with World Athletics Rules, he ran all alone at 1.15pm to qualify at YABATECH sports complex, yesterday.

Meanwhile, Team Delta’s Blessing Ogundiran is Nigeria’s fastest woman as she won the 2026 Commonwealth Games trials in a time of 11.12 seconds.

Ogundiran reclaimed the crown she first won in 2023 at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City, where she ran 11.50s to secure her maiden national title.

This latest victory also marks her third run under 11.20s this year, after clocking 11.17s in May and setting a personal best of 10.98s in April.

Miracle Ezechukwu of N-Youth Sports Academy, Abuja, finished second in a new PB of 11.15s, followed by Olayinka Olajide in 11.28s.

The 17-year-old had already impressed by blazing to an 11.16s finish to win her semifinal heat, making it her second time under 11.20s at these championships.

This is a remarkable improvement compared to her semifinal performance in 2024, when she finished fifth in 11.95s at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium.

Texas Tech University student-athlete Olayinka Olajide completed the podium, taking bronze in 11.28s. It was the 23-year-old’s third straight podium appearance at the championships, after running 11.39s to finish second in 2025 and 11.37s to also finish second in 2024.

One of the ten U.S. based athletes sponsored by Delta State for the trials, Oyesade Olatoye, won her fifth national title at the AFN Commonwealth Games Trials in Lagos.

The former African champion launched a throw of 65.05m to claim victory in the women’s hammer throw, securing her fourth national title in the event. She also won the shot put title in 2021.

The final of men’s 100m and 400m will hold today before the curtains fall on the trials
later in the day.