2 Days to Go : Favour Ashe’s Win in London Fuels Team Nigeria’s Gold Ambition in Men’s 4x100m Relay

With just two days until the start of the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, Team Nigeria’s sprint contingent received another major boost as Favour Ashe delivered an impressive victory at the BFTAA Open in Lee Valley, England.

The Nigerian speedster stormed to victory in the men’s 100m final, clocking 10.06 seconds with a +2.6m/s tailwind to finish ahead of Great Britain’s Nicholas Walsh, who ran 10.11 seconds, while Ade Adewale of Great Britain placed third in 10.19 seconds.

The performance comes at the perfect time for Team Nigeria as Ashe prepares to lead the country’s charge in the men’s 4x100m relay, one of the most anticipated events of the athletics programme at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games.

Nigeria has a rich history in the men’s sprints. amongst many historical nights for the nation was Olapade Adeniken and Davidson Ezinwa both recording sixth-place finishes in the men’s 100m at the Olympic Games in Barcelona 1992 and Atlanta 1996 respectively, while Olusoji Fasuba etched his name into history by winning gold in the men’s 100m at the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games, becoming the first Nigerian to achieve the feat.

The country’s success in the men’s 4x100m relay has also been remarkable over the years. At the 1997 World Athletics Championship in Athens, 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 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, Nigeria’s relay team of Onyeabor Ngwogu, Obinna Metu, Chinedu Oriala and Uchenna Emedolu, with Adetoyi Durotoye also part of the squad, was later upgraded to the silver medal following the disqualification of Jamaica.

The country’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 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 on Thursday, July 23, 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 wealth of options in selecting 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 multiple athletes capable of producing world-class performances and a blend of experience and youthful speed, expectations are high that Team Nigeria can finally convert decades of relay excellence into a historic Commonwealth Games gold medal.