Nigeria’s Ezekiel Nathaniel has etched his name into history after becoming the first Nigerian athlete to win gold in the men’s 400 metres hurdles at the Commonwealth Games.

The 23-year-old produced a dominant performance at the Scotstoun Stadium in Glasgow, Scotland, clocking 48.47 seconds to claim the title in Friday’s final.

Nathaniel’s victory ended Nigeria’s long wait for a Commonwealth Games gold medal in the event, surpassing the country’s previous best achievement from 1966 when Kingsley Agbabokha won silver in the then 440 yards hurdles event.

The Nigerian athlete, who finished sixth at the previous Commonwealth Games, delivered under pressure despite entering the competition as the pre-event favourite.

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

Nathaniel’s triumph also secured Nigeria’s first athletics gold medal in Glasgow after pre-tournament favourites Tobi Amusan and Kayinsola Ajayi both finished with bronze medals in their respective events.

Minutes after Nathaniel’s historic win, another Nigerian sprinter, Udodi Onwuzurike, added another medal by winning silver in the men’s 200 metres.

Onwuzurike clocked a season’s best 20.09 seconds to secure Nigeria’s first Commonwealth Games medal in the men’s 200m for 32 years. South Africa’s Sinesipho Dambile won gold, while Jamaica’s Christopher Taylor took bronze.

The result marked Nigeria’s best-ever finish in the men’s 200m at the Commonwealth Games, improving on previous bronze medal performances by David Ejoke in 1996 and Daniel Effiong in 1994.

Onwuzurike, the 2021 world U-20 champion, had seen his progress slowed by injuries before returning to the global stage with a strong performance in Glasgow.

With the latest medals, Team Nigeria’s tally at the 2026 Commonwealth Games has risen to 18 medals — nine gold, six silver and three bronze.