Former Africa Queen of the track, Olympian Mary Onyali, believes one of the home-based athletes called to camp by the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) for the 2026 Commonwealth Games, Miracle Oluebube Ezechukwu, has what it takes to deliver at the big stage when the battle for medals begin in Glasgow, if she is given the chance to do so.

Ezechukwu was among the Invited Junior Athletes (IJA) team that dazzled Nigerians at the last National Sports Festival held in Abeokuta, Ogun State in 2025.

And at the third combined African U18/U20 Championships also held in Abeokuta, Ezechukwu was part of Team Nigeria that had a clean sweep in the girls’ 100m U-18 final. She blazed to gold in 11.88secs, followed by captain of the IJA Team at the 22nd National Sports Festival, Rosemary Nwankwo (11.96secs), while Miriam Jegede got the bronze (12.20secs).

The duo of Miracle Ezechukwu and Rosemary Nwankwo hail from Anambra State. Nwankwo comes from a village called Mbaukwu, the same village where Mary Onyali was born.

Both Miracle and Rosemary began their athletics career in 2019 in Ilorin as part of Team Anambra to that year’s edition of the National Youth Games in Kwara State.

Since then, Ezechukwu, who represents N-Youth Sports Academy in Abuja, has won many accolades for the country, including being part of Team Nigeria to the World Relays in Botswana, Rwanda, where they won three tickets to next year’s World Championships. She was also part of Team Nigeria to the last African Senior Athletics Championships in Accra, Ghana, where the teenage sprinter had a massive breakthrough on the senior stage by winning her 100m Heat, and advancing directly to her first-ever senior championship semifinal.

She contributed heavily to Team Nigeria’s medal haul in Accra, helping the Women’s 4x100m relay to win gold.

Before then, the Nigerian teenage sprint sensation secured the Nigerian U-20 national title in the women’s 200m with a staggering 22.77s in Jos, Plateau State.

And at the just concluded 2026 Commonwealth Games National Trials at YABATECH, Lagos, Ezechukwu finished second in the women’s 100m race, ranning a massive Personal Best (PB) of 11.15 seconds, behind US-based Blessing Ogundiran, who took the national title and gold in 11.12 seconds.

For legendary Mary Onyali, Miracle Ezechukwu will be one of Nigeria and African stars to watch out for at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, if she has the chance to do so.

Speaking with The Guardian, on Friday, Onyali said: “If she is entered to run in the open 100m or 200m, I believe Miracle will greatly improve on her time. My advice to her has been to stay humble, hungry and patient because with hard work and consistency like she has been, the sky is the starting point for Miracle.”

On the just concluded Commonwealth Games National Trials in Lagos, Onyali hailed the National Sports Commission (NSC), AFN and the Elite Podium Board over the successful conduct of the event at YABATECH.

Onyali, who is one of Nigeria and Africa’s most celebrated track and field icons, said the partnership between the NSC, AFN and the Elite Podium Board headed by Yusuf Ali was central to the success of the trials.

“The coordinated and cordial relationship between these three entities — the NSC, AFN and the Elite Podium Board, made the difference.

“On the athletes’ part, they came prepared and hungry to prove their worth,” she said.

Onyali, however, urged the athletes not to lose focus after the trials, insisting that the real assignment lies ahead in Glasgow, where Nigeria will be aiming to improve on its previous Commonwealth Games gold-medal haul.

“To sustain this tempo, they must stay hungry for bigger success by staying focused in their training while in camp, as the real goal is to get their hands on those gold medals awaiting them in Glasgow,” Onyali said.

“Our plan is to surpass our last gold-medal haul of 12 at the Commonwealth Games,” Onyali stated.