Reporting Live from London

Team Nigeria’s preparations for the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, received a significant boost at the weekend with Kayinsola Ajayi’s stunning victory at the London Diamond League.

The United States-based sprinter once again demonstrated his readiness to hold his ground at global events as he produced another outstanding performance, clocking 9.84 seconds to defeat reigning world champion, Oblique Seville of Jamaica, (9.87 seconds), while home boy, Great Britain’s Romell Glave finished third in a personal best of 9.97 seconds.

Fresh from one of the biggest wins of his career, Ajayi told journalists that he executed his race plan perfectly and is now looking forward to carrying the same form into the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, where athletics begins on July 23.

“I just came out here and did what I had to do, and I am happy I got the job done. I got out of the blocks like ‘boom!’ I knew that if I did my start well, then everything was over,” he said.

Ajayi’s winning time equaled his season’s best and further underlined his status as one of the fastest men in the world this year.

The two-time and reigning NCAA collegiate champion has continued his rapid rise, with the London triumph at the weekend providing another major confidence boost ahead of Glasgow.

The victory also sends a strong message to his Commonwealth Games rivals, as Ajayi confirmed he will line up for Team Nigeria at the Games in Scotland.

With momentum firmly on his side following his London heroics, all eyes will be on Ajayi to convert his scintillating form into Commonwealth Games gold and further cement his reputation as one of athletics’ brightest sprint stars.

The 100 metres has always been one of the most celebrated events in global athletics, and over the years, Nigeria has produced athletes who have proudly carried the nation’s colours on the Commonwealth stage.

From the golden era of Innocent Egbunike, whose exploits helped establish Nigeria as a respected athletics nation, to sprint icons such as Chidi Imoh, Olapade Adenikan, Mary Onyali, Endurance Ojokolo, Mercy Nku, and Olusoji Fasuba, Nigeria has consistently produced athletes capable of competing with the best in the Commonwealth and the world.

The Opening ceremony of the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow is now three days away and the National Sports Commission (NSC) has described Ajayi’s performance as another encouraging sign that Team Nigeria is peaking at the right moment, with expectations high that the country’s athletes will challenge strongly across athletics, wrestling, weightlifting, boxing and para sports.

Another Nigerian, Ezekiel Nathaniel, finished fourth in the men’s 400m hurdles in London against a world-class field. Although he narrowly missed the podium, his performance reinforced the growing depth of Nigerian athletics ahead of the Commonwealth Games.

Meanwhile, 100m hurdles world record holder, Tobi Amusan, arrived at Team Nigeria’s training camp in Aberdeen, at the weekend to join the final phase of preparations ahead of the Games.

Amusan remains one of Nigeria’s strongest medal prospects as she looks to add another major international title to her remarkable career.