‘Blame Nigeria’s track woes on the rain’

One of Team Nigeria’s sprinters at the ongoing 2026 Commonwealth Games, Blessing Ogundiran, had surgery yesterday to remove appendicitis diagnosed by team doctors a few days ago.
 
Nigerians in Glasgow raised eyebrows when Ogundiran’s name was missing on the 100 metres women’s starters’ block on Tuesday evening.  This came after United States-based sprinter, Rosemary Chukwuma failed to advance to the final of the event.
 
But unknown to many, Ogundiran was diagnosed of appendicitis shortly after her training ahead of the 100m event.
 
“These are some of the unforeseen issues we have to deal with in the camp,” the Director-General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Bukola Olopade, said while speaking with journalists at Nigeria Puma House, yesterday.
 
“We thank God Ogundiran had a successful surgery this morning (yesterday). Another of our athlete also took ill a few minutes to his event, and we also took care of the situation,” he said.
 
Meanwhile, U.S.-based 400m runner, Edidiong Udo has revealed that the likes of Rosemary Chukwuma, teenage debutant Miracle Ezechukwu, Nicholas Fakorede as well as Favour Ashe may have been stopped by the rain from recording their best time in the 100m events on Tuesday.
 
The organisers were forced to put some of the events on hold for some hours due to the rain on Tuesday.
   
“I am not giving any excuses on behalf of any athlete, but sincerely speaking the weather affected most of our athletes on Tuesday,” Udo told The Guardian, yesterday.
 
He added: “People, particularly athletes, react to weather differently.”