Nigeria’s athlete Kayinsola Ajayi reacts after competing in the men’s 100m heats during the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo on September 13, 2025. (Photo by Jewel SAMAD / AFP)
By Douglas Baye-Osagie
Athletics historians can’t wait for a better opportunity than now to believe Nigeria is on the verge of winning one of the most elusive gold medals in our sports history. Despite a rich avalanche of great sprinters, a men’s 100m gold medal at the Commonwealth Games has been embarrassingly elusive.
For 96 years, the Commonwealth Games have rolled around like clockwork. The gun first cracked in Hamilton 1930, the steel city of Canada. Then it echoed in London 1934, and through the Commonwealth in cities like Sydney, Auckland, Cardiff, Kingston, Edinburgh, Kuala Lumpur, Manchester, Brisbane, Victoria, Delhi, and Birmingham 2022. Now, the circuit returns once again to Glasgow 2026, and with it, Nigeria’s 96-year wait for a men’s 100m crown.
Our women have already left their mark with pride. Mary Onyali gave us fire and fight, winning 100m gold in Victoria 1994. Blessing Okagbare gave us grace and dominance, winning 100m gold in Glasgow 2014 and setting the Commonwealth Games record at 10.85s on that same track. Tobi Amusan continued the tradition in the last edition, taking 100m hurdles gold in Birmingham 2022 and setting a Games record of 12.30s.
