• Oyiki:‘We have depended on women for too long,’

Team Nigeria received a massive boost yesterday ahead of today’s commencement of the athletics events at the ongoing 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow following the arrival of U.S.-based 200m speed star, Ella Onojuvwevwo and high jumper Temitope Adeshina.

The two athletes arrived in Nigeria’s camp targeting gold medals at the Games.

Adeshina travelled from Nigeria after renewing her United States visa, while Onojuvwevwo made the journey from Florida.

High jumper Adeshina will be aiming to become the first Nigerian woman to win a Commonwealth Games gold medal in the event.

On her part, Onojuvwevwo is targeting Nigeria’s first 400m gold at the Commonwealth Games since Fatimah Yusuf triumphed in 1990 with a jump of 51.08 seconds as a U-20 athlete.

Nigeria’s most recent women’s 400m gold medal at the Games was won by Folasade Abugan in 2010, but the medal was later stripped following a doping control violation.

The arrival of the two athletes has further lifted the mood in the Nigerian camp, with Performance Director of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), Victor Okorie, describing their presence as a major boost ahead of the competition.

Onojuvwevwo, one of Nigeria’s leading 400m athletes, was warmly welcomed by teammates and officials, while Adeshina also arrived in high spirits as Team Nigeria prepares for what promises to be a significant athletics campaign in Glasgow.

The AFN has called on Nigerians in Glasgow and supporters around the world to rally behind the athletes as they compete for medals on one of the biggest sporting stages in the Commonwealth.

Meanwhile, former Nigerian hurdler, Moses Oyiki, is in no doubt that the country can get up to seven gold medals in athletics as promised by team officials.

Oyiki said yesterday in Glasgow that the country can even surpass that number, adding, however, that “our athletes must be careful because the Jamaicans, Botswanans and Australians are in these Games.”

He said: “Apart from Tobi Amusan, we have great athletes who are doing well in their various fields. I feel the absence of Ese Brume in the women’s long jump might be a minus, but Prestina Ochonogor and Ruth Usoro might just spring a surprise here in Glasgow.”

Oyiki acknowledged that Nigeria has waited for a long time to excel in athletics, adding: “We have been depending on the women, but I am sure that will change here in Glasgow.”