Commonwealth Games: Nathaniel Wins Historic Gold as Onwuzurike Claims Silver for Nigeria

Nigeria enjoyed another memorable day at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow as Ezekiel Nathaniel won a historic gold medal in the men’s 400m hurdles, while Udodi Onwuzurike claimed silver in the men’s 200m.

Nathaniel, 23, stormed to victory in a time of 48.47 seconds at Scotstoun Stadium on Friday, becoming the first Nigerian to win the men’s 400m hurdles title at the Commonwealth Games.

His triumph ended a 60-year wait for Nigeria in the event. Before Friday’s race, the country’s best result had been Kingsley Agbabokha’s silver medal in the 440-yard hurdles at the 1966 Commonwealth Games.

Nathaniel also completed a remarkable turnaround after finishing sixth in the same event at the Birmingham 2022 Games. Despite entering the race as the favourite, he produced a dominant performance to finish comfortably ahead of the field.

England’s Jake Minshull won the silver medal, while Jamaica’s Assnie Wilson settled for bronze.

Nathaniel’s victory also gave Nigeria its first athletics gold medal of the Glasgow Games after Tobi Amusan and Kayinsola Ajayi both won bronze in their respective events.

A few minutes later, Onwuzurike added another medal to Nigeria’s tally by winning silver in the men’s 200m.

The 23-year-old produced a season’s best time of 20.09 seconds, overtaking Jamaica’s Christopher Taylor in the closing metres to finish second behind South Africa’s Sinesipho Dambile, who claimed the gold medal.

The silver medal is Nigeria’s best-ever finish in the men’s 200m at the Commonwealth Games. The country’s previous best results were bronze medals won by Daniel Effiong in 1994 and David Ejoke in 1998.

Onwuzurike, who won the World Under-20 title in 2021, has battled injuries in recent years, making his return to the podium even more significant.

The two medals increased Nigeria’s total at the 2026 Commonwealth Games to 18 medals, made up of nine gold, six silver and three bronze.