Team Nigeria began their Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games campaign on a winning note on Friday, defeating the Cayman Islands 21-17 in their opening men’s 3×3 basketball match.
Nigeria produced a composed display to secure the victory, with Esosa Okundaye and Ikechukwu Nwamu leading the scoring after contributing six points apiece.
The win gives the team a strong start in the fast-paced format, where every group-stage result is crucial in the race for the knockout rounds.
The Nigerian side will now turn its attention to a tougher challenge against Australia later on Friday, with the match scheduled to tip off at 5:25 p.m. Nigerian time.
Elsewhere, Team Nigeria’s individual events also got underway as swimmer Clinton Opute competed in the men’s 200m individual medley.
Opute, however, endured a disappointing start to his Commonwealth Games campaign, finishing sixth in his heat with a time of 2:15.40.
His performance was not enough to secure qualification for the next round, bringing his participation in the event to an early end.
Despite Opute’s exit, Nigeria will take encouragement from the basketball team’s opening victory as the country’s athletes continue their quest for medals at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games.
