Less than 24 hours after the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games in Scotland, Team Nigeria will turn its attention to the next generation of athletics stars as a promising contingent heads to Oregon, United States, for the 2026 World Athletics U-20 Championships. It will run from August 5 to 9.
 
Fresh from representing Nigeria in Glasgow, sprint sensation Miracle Ezechukwu and shot put silver medallist Jessica Oji lead the Team Nigeria squad for the global junior championship, where the world’s finest emerging track and field talents will compete for honours.
 
Ezechukwu, who competed in the Commonwealth Games women’s 100m semifinal, will feature in the 100m and 200m and is also listed for the women’s 4x100m relay, bringing valuable experience from Glasgow, where she was also a part of Nigeria’s 4x100m team that reached the Commonwealth Games final.
 
On her part, Oji will compete in both the women’s shot put and discus throw. She arrives in Oregon with considerable momentum after winning silver in the women’s shot put at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, an achievement that further underlined her status as one of Nigeria’s brightest emerging field event prospects.
 
The Nigerian contingent features a blend of promising sprint, hurdles, jumps and throws talents seeking to make their mark on the global stage.
 
In the women’s 100m, Ezechukwu will be joined by Rosemary Nwankwo and Lucy Nwankwo, while Success Oyibu and Tejiri Praise Ugoh join Ezechukwu in the 200m.

Becky Ebiyadi, Faith Ezechukwu and Jecinta Lawrence will represent Nigeria in the women’s 400m, while Chika Bakwunye will compete in the 100m hurdles.
 
Nigeria has also named a strong women’s relay pool, with Miracle Ezechukwu, Rosemary Nwankwo, Lucy Nwankwo, Success Oyibu and Chika Bakwunye listed for the 4x100m, while Becky Ebiyadi, Faith Ezechukwu, Jecinta Lawrence and Success Oyibu make up the 4x400m squad.
 
On the men’s side, Gift Bright and Tejiri Godwin will compete in the 100m, with Bright returning for the 200m alongside Perfect Faye. David Udoh will fly Nigeria’s flag in the 400m, while Precious Opinion will compete in the triple jump.
 
Nigeria’s men’s 4x100m relay pool comprises Gift Bright, Perfect Faye, Tejiri Godwin, Precious Opinion and David Udoh.
 
The World Athletics U-20 Championships provide one of the biggest stages for the next generation of global athletics stars, with the 21st edition bringing together elite young athletes from across the world.

Oregon is no stranger to hosting major global athletics competitions, having staged the World Athletics Championships in 2022, where Tobi Amusan set a new 100m hurdles world record (12.12se). The city also hosted the World U-20 Championships in 2014.
 
Meanwhile, the National Sports Commission (NSC) has expressed confidence that the young athletes will draw inspiration from Team Nigeria’s performances at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games as the country continues to strengthen its pathway from junior development to senior international competition.