Nigeria’s Kayinsola Ajayi delivered a superb performance to claim the bronze medal in the men’s 100 metres after clocking a blistering 9.90 seconds in a breathtaking Commonwealth Games final at Scotstoun Stadium on Tuesday night.

Ajayi, who had qualified impressively from the semi-finals earlier in the day, produced another outstanding run to finish third behind Cameroon’s Emmanuel Eseme, who powered to a Games Record of 9.83 seconds to win gold, while Australia’s Lachlan Kennedy claimed silver in an Australian Record of 9.85 seconds.

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South Africa’s Gift Leotlela narrowly missed the podium despite posting a season’s best 9.91 seconds, finishing just one-hundredth of a second behind the Nigerian.

The result marks another major milestone in Ajayi’s rapidly rising career and gives Team Nigeria another athletics medal at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games.

The 20-year-old has been one of Nigeria’s standout sprinters throughout the 2026 season, consistently running among the world’s fastest times. His bronze-medal performance in Glasgow confirms his emergence as one of Africa’s brightest sprint talents and signals a promising future ahead of the next World Championships and Olympic cycle.

The final lived up to expectations, producing one of the fastest races in Commonwealth Games history. Eseme’s 9.83 shattered the previous Games record, while Kennedy’s 9.85 established a new Australian record. Ajayi’s 9.90 ensured Nigeria was represented on the podium after surviving a highly competitive field that included South Africa’s Gift Leotlela, Wales’ Jeremiah Azu, Australia’s Edward Nketia, Ghana’s Benjamin Azamati and South Africa’s Cheswill Johnson.

Ajayi’s medal also capped an impressive outing for Nigeria’s men’s sprint team. Although Favour Ashe and Adekalu Nicholas Fakorede narrowly missed the final after their semi-final races, Ajayi carried the nation’s hopes into the championship race and delivered when it mattered most.

His podium finish adds to Team Nigeria’s growing medal haul in Glasgow and continues the country’s impressive campaign across athletics and weightlifting.

For Nigeria, the message from Scotstoun Stadium was clear: the country’s sprint tradition remains alive, and Kayinsola Ajayi has announced himself on one of the biggest stages in Commonwealth sport

The post Glasgow 2026: Ajayi Wins Bronze as Eseme Storms to Commonwealth Games 100m Gold in Historic Glasgow Final appeared first on Sports247 Nigeria.

Two days after etching his name into Nigeria’s sporting history at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, Riluwan Idris has opened up on the personal promise that inspired him to become the country’s first male gold medallist, revealing that he arrived in Scotland determined to silence critics who doubted Nigeria’s male para powerlifters.

Idris claimed gold in the Men’s Heavyweight Para Powerlifting event to cap a memorable debut at the Commonwealth Games, joining Nigeria’s growing list of medal winners in a campaign that has already showcased the country’s dominance on the powerlifting platform.

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Reflecting on the journey, the Commonwealth champion said his motivation came from repeated claims that Nigeria’s men were incapable of matching the achievements of their female counterparts.

“This is my first Commonwealth Games. I’ve competed at other international events before, but this is my first time participating here. Before coming, I made a promise to myself that I must become Nigeria’s first male gold medallist because a lot of people have been saying that the men cannot deliver gold medals. I wanted to prove them wrong, and I thank God today that the gold medal is mine.”

The victory was particularly significant for Idris, who had never competed at the Commonwealth Games before. His triumph not only fulfilled a personal ambition but also answered those who questioned whether Nigeria’s male lifters could stand on the top step of the podium.

Beyond the gold medal, Idris also praised the National Sports Commission (NSC) for fulfilling its promise to reward medal-winning athletes immediately. He confirmed receiving the Commission’s $5,000 cash incentive for winning gold, describing the gesture as a major boost for athletes representing the country.

“I want to thank the National Sports Commission for fulfilling its promise. I have received my $5,000, and I sincerely appreciate the support. It is a great motivation for us to keep giving our best and making Nigeria proud.”

The immediate payment of performance bonuses has been one of the defining features of Team Nigeria’s campaign in Glasgow. Under the leadership of NSC Chairman Mallam Shehu Dikko and Director General Hon. Bukola Olopade, the Commission has ensured that athletes receive their rewards without delay, a move that has drawn widespread praise from members of the Nigerian contingent.

Sports247 observed that Idris’ story has become one of the most inspiring narratives of the Games for Team Nigeria. While his gold medal added to the country’s impressive medal haul, his determination to challenge the perception surrounding Nigeria’s male para powerlifters has resonated with athletes and fans alike.

With his first Commonwealth Games now behind him, Idris has not only fulfilled the promise he made to himself before leaving Nigeria but has also written a new chapter in the country’s sporting history—one that will inspire future generations of Nigerian athletes to believe that no challenge is beyond their reach.

The post GLASGOW 2026: “They Said Men Can’t Win Gold” — Riluwan Idris Opens Up on the Promise That Made Him Nigeria’s First Male Gold Medallist appeared first on Sports247 Nigeria.

Nigeria’s Abduljabar Adama kept the country’s swimming hopes alive on Day Two of the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, producing an impressive performance to qualify for the men’s 50m freestyle semi-finals at the Tollcross International Swimming Centre.

Competing in a highly competitive Heat 7, Adama rose to the occasion against a quality field that included Australia’s Flynn Southam, England’s Jacob Mills, Canada’s Antoine Sauvé, and Northern Ireland’s Matthew Hamilton. The Nigerian sprint swimmer finished strongly to secure one of the qualifying places for the semi-finals, becoming Nigeria’s lone representative in the next stage of the event.

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It was, however, a disappointing outing for compatriot Clinton Opute, who competed in Heat 8 alongside Australia’s Jamie Jack, South Africa’s Michael Houlie, The Bahamas’ Lamar Taylor, and Fiji’s Hansel McCaig. Despite a determined effort, Opute’s time was not enough to earn one of the coveted semi-final spots, bringing his campaign in the event to an end.

Adama’s qualification is another significant milestone in his rapidly developing career. The young Nigerian has earned a reputation as one of Africa’s brightest sprint prospects after setting the African junior record in the 50m freestyle, and his latest performance reinforces his growing status on the international stage.

Sports247, reporting from Glasgow, observed jubilant celebrations from the Nigerian camp after Adama’s qualification was confirmed. With the semi-finals scheduled later on Day Two, the Nigerian will now aim to produce another explosive swim as he targets a historic place in the Commonwealth Games final.

After Team Nigeria’s outstanding medal haul in para powerlifting on the opening day, Adama’s progression provides another positive storyline for the Nigerian contingent as the Games gather momentum in Glasgow.

The post Just-In: Abduljabar Adama Keeps Nigeria’s Hopes Alive, Storms Into Commonwealth Games 50m Freestyle Semi-Finals appeared first on Sports247 Nigeria.