Team Nigeria made an encouraging start on Day Five of the 2026 Commonwealth Games, yesterday, with more athletes booking their places in the semifinals.

United States-based 400m runner, Edidiong Udo, produced a commanding performance to win Heat 1 of the men’s 400m, crossing the line in 45.73seconds.

Barbados’ Desean Boyce was second in 46.55seconds, while Michael Francois of Grenada was third in 46.62seconds.

Dark-complexioned Udo, who stepped down events from the 800m to the 400m, told The Guardian inside the mixed zone soon after the heat at the Scotstoun Stadium, in Glasgow, that he made a wrong choice at the beginning of his athletics career.

“I was in the wrong event,” Udo said. “But I am happy that I realised that on time. It was easy for me to step down from the 800m to 400m. The only thing I needed to do was to adjust quickly in my timing, and others, and it has worked out for me,” he said.

It has taken Udo almost 10 years to make his first appearance for Nigeria. He was in good form last year, but he had to cut short his season after losing his parents in a space of one month.

Udo joined Samuel Ogazi in the semifinals, giving Team Nigeria two representatives in the men’s 400m event.

In the women’s 400m, Esther Elo Joseph secured automatic qualification for her maiden Commonwealth Games semifinal after finishing third in her heat in 52.82 seconds. She was joined by experienced campaigner Patience Okon-George, who also progressed after placing fourth in her heat with a time of 53.27 seconds.

Alongside Ella Onojuvwevwo, Nigeria will have three athletes contesting the women’s 400m semifinals.

Team Nigeria also enjoyed success in the swimming pool yesterday, as Abduljabar Adama and Colins Ebingha both advanced to the men’s 50m butterfly semifinals.

While Adama finished fourth in his heat in 23.99 seconds, Ebingha followed closely in fifth with a time of 24.01 seconds, ensuring Nigeria had two swimmers in the semifinal late yesterday.

The semifinal and final events in the 100m were scheduled for 7.00 p.m. and 8.00 p.m. respectively yesterday.