Nigeria may have returned from the 2026 Commonwealth Games with fewer medals than it won four years ago, but sports journalist Mahbubat Salahudeen says the country's overall performance was actually stronger.
Speaking with Nigeria Info, Salahudeen argued that the medal table does not tell the full story, pointing to Nigeria's smaller team size, improved medals-per-athlete ratio and record-breaking performances in Glasgow.
Nigeria finished seventh overall with 24 medals, compared with the 35 medals won at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
However, she noted that the country achieved the feat with only 72 athletes, down from 94 four years ago.
"We should take a look beyond just the total number of medals," she said.
According to Salahudeen, the smaller contingent produced a better medals-per-athlete ratio, showing that Nigerian athletes remained highly competitive despite reduced numbers.
She also highlighted another achievement she believes deserves greater attention.
"Nigerian athletes are not just good enough to participate as an African team, but they competed as one of the best teams in the world," she said.
Salahudeen noted that Nigerian athletes set eight Commonwealth Games records during the competition, describing the feat as evidence of the country's growing strength on the international stage.
She said the combination of record-breaking performances and gold medal victories across different events provides a solid platform as Nigeria prepares for future global competitions, including the Olympic Games.
Looking back on the campaign, Salahudeen insisted that Glasgow 2026 deserves to be remembered as one of Nigeria's finest outings in recent years.
"So beyond the number of medals, what we pulled off in Scotland in 2026 is the best performance our team has had in years," she said.
Comments
Add a comment