Tayo Ogunseye
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 Championships 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.
Ashe Fires Commonwealth Warning with Lee Valley Victory as Team Nigeria Targets Relay Gold
With just two days remaining before the start of the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, Team Nigeria’s athletics team has received a significant confidence boost after sprint star Favour Ashe produced a commanding victory at the BFTAA Open in Lee Valley, England.
Ashe underlined his readiness for the Games by winning the men’s 100m final in an impressive 10.06 seconds, aided by a +2.6m/s tailwind. He finished ahead of Great Britain’s Nicholas Walsh, who clocked 10.11 seconds, while Ade Adewale claimed third place in 10.19 seconds.
The performance comes at an ideal time as the Nigerian sprinter prepares to spearhead the country’s bid for honours in the men’s 4x100m relay, one of the marquee events of the athletics programme at Glasgow 2026.
Nigeria enters the Games with an illustrious sprinting pedigree and a proud history in both the individual 100m and the relay. Olapade Adeniken and Davidson Ezinwa both reached Olympic 100m finals, finishing sixth at Barcelona 1992 and Atlanta 1996 respectively, while Olusoji Fasuba made history by winning the men’s 100m gold medal at the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games—the first Nigerian to achieve the feat.
The country’s relay tradition has been equally impressive. At the 1997 World Athletics Championships 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 remains the national record.
Nigeria added another World Championships medal in Seville in 1999 when 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, the Nigerian 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 Jamaica’s disqualification.
The nation’s success has also extended to the Commonwealth Games. Nigeria secured bronze medals in the men’s 4x100m relay at Glasgow 2014 and Gold Coast 2018 before recording its best-ever finish at Birmingham 2022, where Favour Ashe, Raymond Ekevwo, Alaba Akintola and Udodi Onwuzurike claimed silver behind Kenya.
As the athletics competition gets underway on Thursday, July 23, Team Nigeria arrives in Glasgow with one of its strongest sprint squads in recent memory. The relay pool includes Israel Sunday Okon, Fakorede Adekalu, Kanyinsola Ajayi, Favour Ashe, Alaba Akintola, Udodi Onwuzurike and Chidera Ezeakor, providing the coaching crew with a wealth of talent and depth.
With Ashe already showing excellent form in England and several teammates capable of producing world-class performances, Nigeria will head into the men’s 4x100m relay with genuine hopes of making history by capturing its first-ever Commonwealth Games gold medal in the event.
After decades of relay success on the global stage, Glasgow 2026 could finally provide the moment Team Nigeria turns its rich sprinting legacy into Commonwealth Games gold.
