The race for places on Team Nigeria’s athletics team to the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow has officially begun, with the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) unveiling plans for the national trials that will determine the country’s representatives in track and field, Trybal News reports.
The highly anticipated championships will take place from June 20 to 22, 2026, at the Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH) Sports Complex in Lagos, where Nigeria’s finest athletes will battle for the opportunity to wear the national colours on one of the sport’s biggest stages.
In a decisive move aimed at ensuring a merit-based selection process, the AFN has declared participation in the national trials mandatory for all athletes seeking consideration for Team Nigeria. The announcement effectively makes the Lagos championships the final and most important step on the road to Glasgow.
With Commonwealth Games qualification, national pride and international recognition at stake, athletes across the country are already stepping up preparations for what promises to be one of the most competitive athletics events on the domestic calendar.
The three-day competition will feature 32 track and field events for both men and women, providing athletes across multiple disciplines with the opportunity to impress selectors and secure their places on the national team.
However, entry into the blue-riband sprint events, the men’s and women’s 100m, 200m and 400m will be restricted to athletes who have achieved the federation’s prescribed qualifying standards. All other events will remain open, a move the AFN believes will guarantee high-quality competition in the sprint races while encouraging wider participation across the championships.
Athletes are expected to arrive in Lagos on June 19, with departures scheduled for June 23.
To further support competitors, the federation confirmed that accommodation will be provided for athletes who have attained the required qualification standards within the designated period. A comprehensive list of eligible athletes is expected to be released in the coming days.
The trials are widely expected to deliver thrilling contests, with established stars looking to cement their places and emerging talents eager to announce themselves on the national stage. Given Nigeria’s rich athletics pedigree and status as one of Africa’s leading track and field nations, competition for the available Commonwealth Games slots is expected to be intense.
AFN President Chief Tonobok Okowa has called on stakeholders, athletics enthusiasts and sports fans across the country to support the athletes during the championships, describing the event as a crucial milestone in Nigeria’s preparations for Glasgow 2026.
Okowa expressed confidence that the trials would not only identify the nation’s strongest medal prospects but also provide a platform for emerging talents to showcase their abilities ahead of the Commonwealth Games.
The AFN president also commended the leadership of the National Sports Commission (NSC) for its continued support of athletics development in the country, noting that the commission’s backing has been instrumental in efforts to strengthen athlete preparation and improve elite performance standards.
As the countdown to Glasgow gathers pace, all eyes will now turn to Lagos, where ambitions will be tested, dreams pursued and places on Team Nigeria earned.
For every athlete hoping to compete at the 2026 Commonwealth Games, the message from the Athletics Federation of Nigeria is clear, the road to Glasgow begins in Lagos.
