Nesiama tips Team Nigeria to spring surprises in Glasgow

Nesiama tips Team Nigeria to spring surprises in Glasgow.

Ohis Asein

Former Technical Director of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) and current Chairman NOC Technical and Development Commission, Commodore Omatseye Nesiama (Rtd), has expressed confidence that Team Nigeria's athletics contingent can produce outstanding performances at the ongoing 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

Speaking exclusively to FAKS MEDIA on Sunday, Nesiama said the quality of athletes on ground to represent Nigeria, which has been reviewed from the initial list released, current form, preparation put in coupled with the further incentives promised by the National Sports Commission (NSC), has provided the perfect motivation for success.

According to him, the Commonwealth Games has always been a platform where young athletes announce themselves on the global stage.

"The Commonwealth Games has a way of producing surprises. If you remember, in the same Glasgow some years ago while I was AFN TD , a young Ese Brume shocked the world after returning from the World Junior Championships in the United States to make a superb podium finish against all odds. That was where she announced herself to the world. I am hoping that some of the young stars included in this team would follow suit.

Nesiama lauded the National Sports Commission for the current level of preparation, athletes' welfare and motivation. He calls for the NSC, NOC and sports federations to explore new ideas in sports administration line with best practices. This will straighten out few loose ends and sharpen our efforts at both developmental and elite performance service delivery. We can then have clear NSC strategic direction where the NOC and sports Federations would align their operational and tactical plans respectively.

"For now I can say we are seeing plans meeting with concrete preparations backed up by adequate welfare. Based on this, the athletes should be motivated enough to hit expected levels of delivery. I want to quickly add that no matter the preparation and motivation, proper Games Team management is key to predetermined success. The athletes activities pre-competing needs to be put under more scrutiny especially as the Games Village concept has been jettisoned in this competition. What they do or fail to do at this stage could make the difference between expected delivery and failure to deliver.

The athletics events of the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games begin on Monday, July 27, with Nigeria expected to compete in several medal events.

Nesiama therefore expressed optimism that Team Nigeria would rise up to the occasion as athletics competition gets underway.

"I'm optimistic that the team will deliver positively as the events progresses," he concluded.