Fresh from his victory at the BFTAA Open in Lee Valley, England, Nigeria’s sprinter, Favour Ashe, is set to lead the nation’s quest for medals in the 4x100m relay event at the 2026 Commonwealth Games.

Ashe, who won the 100m title at the National Trials held at the Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH) a few weeks ago, proved his status as one of the sprinters to watch out for in Glasgow, as he powered to victory at the BFTAA Open in the men’s 100m final, clocking 10.06 seconds with a +2.6m/s tailwind. He finished ahead of Great Britain’s Nicholas Walsh (10.11 seconds), while Ade Adewale of Great Britain placed third in 10.19 seconds.

Nigeria has a rich history in the men’s sprints. Among them were the great performances by the likes of Olapade Adeniken and Davidson Ezinwa, both recording sixth-place finishes in the men’s 100m at the Barcelona 1992 Olympic Games and Atlanta 1996, respectively, while Olusoji Fasuba etched his name into history books by winning gold in the men’s 100m at the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games, becoming the first Nigerian to achieve the feat.

Nigeria’s success in the men’s 4x100m relay has also been remarkable over the years.

At the 1997 World Athletics Championships in Athens, Greece, the quartet of Osmond Ezinwa, Olapade Adeniken, Francis Obikwelu and Davidson Ezinwa claimed silver after setting the Nigerian record of 37.94 seconds in the semifinals, a mark that still stands today.

Nigeria followed that performance with another World Championships podium finish in Seville, Spain in 1999, where Innocent Asonze, Francis Obikwelu, Daniel Effiong and Deji Aliu combined to win bronze in 37.91 seconds, then an African record.

At the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games in China, Nigeria’s relay team of Onyeabor Ngwogu, Obinna Metu, Chinedu Oriala and Uchenna Emedolu, with Adetoyi Durotoye also part of the squad, got a bronze medal, which was later upgraded to the silver medal following the disqualification of Jamaica.

Team Nigeria’s Commonwealth Games relay pedigree has continued to grow in recent years. Seye Ogunlewe, Mark Jelks, Ogho-Oghene Egwero and Divine Oduduru won bronze at Glasgow 2014 before Seye Ogunlewe, Divine Oduduru, Raymond Ekevwo and Emmanuel Arowolo secured another bronze medal at the Gold Coast, Australia during the 2018 Games.

Nigeria recorded its best-ever Commonwealth Games finish in the men’s 4x100m relay at Birmingham 2022, where Favour Ashe, Raymond Ekevwo, Alaba Akintola and Udodi Onwuzurike combined to win silver, finishing just behind Kenya.

As the athletics competition begins tomorrow, Team Nigeria once again boasts one of its deepest sprint squads in recent history.

The relay pool features Israel Sunday Okon, Fakorede Adekalu, Kanyinsola Ajayi, Favour Ashe, Alaba Akintola, Udodi Onwuzurike and Chidera Ezeakor, giving the coaching crew a rich pool of options to select the fastest and most balanced quartet.

Nigeria heads into the competition with genuine aspirations of winning its first-ever Commonwealth Games gold medal in the men’s sprint relay.

With three weeks of preparations in the Aberdeen camp, coupled with multiple athletes capable of producing world-class performances and a blend of experience and youthful speed, Team Nigeria’s expectations are high that Ashe and co can finally convert decades of relay excellence into a historic Commonwealth Games gold medal.