For members of the Nigeria Coaches Association, it is payback time for the country as the rush for medals begins at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland.

The Games will get underway today across various centres in Glasgow.

The first batch of Team Nigeria’s squad arrived in the city on Tuesday from a three-week training camp in Aberdeen, where the athletes and their officials were given premium treatment by the Federal Government.

Now, the president of the coaches association, United States-based Coach Gabriel Opuana, says that the athletes must reciprocate the gesture by putting smiles on the faces of officials of the National Sports Commission (NSC), the Presidency and Nigerians back home.

“We, the coaches and athletes, have been given all that we requested for and now we have no excuse not to perform,” Opuana said.

“We are grateful to the NSC Chairman, Shehu Dikko, and the Director General, Bukola Olopade, for the good work they have done. They came into the camp to see what we were doing, which is a great departure from the past.

“Everything about the camping was top notch, and Yusuf Alli has done a marvellous job getting athletes to training venues and back right on schedule. The only way to say thank you is to go out there, compete fairly and come back with the gold medal.

“You must remember that as Nigeria’s ambassador here in Glasgow, you embody the aspirations of millions of Nigerians back home,” Opuana stated.

Meanwhile, the athletes have said that the NSC’s instant cash reward of $5000 for any gold medal won at the 2026 Commonwealth Games has fired them up.

Dikko and Olapade made the promise when they visited the athletes ahead of their departure to Glasgow yesterday from Aberdeen.

Hurdler Tobi Amusan had made the request, stressing that such a gesture would boost their morale and motivate them to go for gold. And Dikko agreed to the request and hiked the winning bonus from $3000 to $5000.

Also, sprinter Kanyinsola Ajayi was handsomely rewarded for breaking the national 100 metres record and recently boosting the country’s image with a win at the Diamond League in London.

Interestingly, powerlifter Folasade Oluwafumiayo, who broke a world record during training, was also patted on the back with “an envelope.”

Speaking to the coaches later in the evening, Olapade urged them to work harder and ensure that their athletes are in the best condition to compete.

He said there would be a reward for any coach whose athlete delivered a gold medal.