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Glasgow 2026: History Made! Abduljabar Adama Finishes Fifth in Commonwealth Games Final, Announces Nigeria’s Arrival in World Swimming
He may have missed out on a medal, but Abduljabar Adama achieved something that could prove even more significant for Nigerian swimming.
The 18-year-old sensation became the first Nigerian swimmer to compete in a Commonwealth Games men’s 50m Butterfly final, finishing an impressive fifth in a world-class field at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games.
Read Also: “History Is Being Made in Glasgow, and Nigeria Must Build on This Momentum” — SSA Adeboye
Adama stopped the clock at 23.42 seconds, holding his own against some of the biggest names in international swimming.
Australia dominated the race as Kyle Chalmers and Ben Armbruster shared the gold medal after both clocked a Games Record-equalling 22.73 seconds, while fellow Australian Cameron McEvoy claimed bronze in 22.92 seconds. Canada’s Joshua Liendo finished fourth ahead of the Nigerian, with England’s Jacob Peters, South Africa’s Calvyn Justus and Scotland’s Dean Fearn completing the finalists.
For Nigeria, however, the biggest victory was Adama’s presence in the final itself.
No Nigerian man had ever reached the final of the Commonwealth Games 50m Butterfly before now, making the teenager’s achievement another landmark moment in the country’s sporting history.
It is the latest chapter in the rapid rise of one of Africa’s brightest swimming talents.
Adama first grabbed global attention in 2025, when he became the first Nigerian swimmer ever to win a medal at a World Aquatics Championship, claiming silver in the Men’s 50m Butterfly at the World Aquatics Junior Championships in Otopeni, Romania. During that unforgettable championship, he broke the Nigerian record twice in one day, lowering the national mark in both the heats and semi-finals before securing his historic silver medal. His achievement sent shockwaves through Nigerian swimming and established him as one of the sport’s most exciting young prospects.
The youngster, who trains at the Mount Kelly Swimming Academy in the United Kingdom, has continued to improve with every major competition and is widely regarded as one of Nigeria’s brightest hopes for future global championships and the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, where the 50m Butterfly will make its Olympic debut.
His run to the Glasgow final was equally impressive. Adama progressed confidently through the heats before producing another outstanding performance in the semi-finals to become the first Nigerian to book a place in the championship race.
Although he narrowly missed the podium, his fifth-place finish represents one of the finest performances ever by a Nigerian swimmer at the Commonwealth Games and reinforces the country’s growing reputation in a sport long dominated by traditional powerhouses such as Australia, Canada and England.
For Team Nigeria, Adama’s achievement is another reminder that Glasgow 2026 has become a Games of historic breakthroughs.
From Goodness Nwachukwu’s world record in para athletics, to Kayinsola Ajayi’s first Nigerian men’s 100m medal in 20 years, Temitope Adeshina’s historic high jump bronze, and the weightlifting heroes rewriting Commonwealth Games records, Nigeria has continued to produce performances that are changing perceptions on the international stage.
Abduljabar Adama may return home without a medal around his neck, but he leaves Glasgow with something equally valuable—a place in Nigerian sporting history.
At just 18 years old, his journey is only beginning. If his remarkable rise over the past two years is any indication, the best is yet to come for the young swimmer who has already dared to take Nigerian swimming where it has never been before.
The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has continued to spread geographically, with the World Health Organisation (WHO) reporting cases across 61 health zones in six provinces.
The WHO disclosed this in its latest outbreak situation update issued on Thursday, saying the outbreak had expanded to Kayna Health Zone in North Kivu.
The affected provinces are Bas-Uélé, Haut-Uélé, Ituri, North Kivu, South Kivu and Tshopo.
Transmission remains a concern
According to the latest WHO update, transmission patterns remain variable, with evidence of continued geographical expansion and sustained increases in cases across some affected health zones despite ongoing response efforts.
The agency said delayed detection remained a major concern, increasing the risk of further transmission within households, communities and healthcare facilities.
It said limited access to early treatment and difficulties in interrupting transmission were also contributing to the challenges faced by the response.
In addition, the WHO said these challenges required strengthened surveillance, rapid response measures and early treatment to help interrupt transmission.
As of 7 September, the DRC had recorded 6,757 confirmed Ebola cases caused by the Bundibugyo virus, including 3,267 deaths.
The figures represent a crude case fatality ratio of 48.3 per cent, according to the WHO.
Outbreak challenges
The latest development comes less than a month after the WHO described the outbreak as the second-largest Ebola outbreak on record.
At the time, 4,449 confirmed cases had been recorded across 53 health zones in five provinces.
The WHO had also warned that the outbreak was spreading faster than previous Ebola outbreaks at the same stage and was on course to potentially surpass the 2014–2016 West African outbreak, which remains the largest recorded Ebola outbreak.
The outbreak is caused by the rare Bundibugyo species of Ebola virus.
READ ALSO: UK increases Ebola response funding to £78.7m
Unlike the Zaire species, which has caused several previous Ebola outbreaks and for which the Ervebo vaccine is used, there is currently no licensed vaccine specifically approved for Bundibugyo virus disease.
In August, the WHO said a high proportion of cases were being detected in communities rather than treatment centres and outside known contact lists, suggesting that some chains of transmission remained unidentified.
The agency had said response measures included contact tracing, treatment centres, safe burial teams, laboratories and community engagement activities.
The WHO said the continued geographical expansion of the outbreak highlights the need to strengthen surveillance and ensure early detection and treatment, particularly in affected communities and healthcare facilities.
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Nigerian striker Okiki Akinwande has earned a major opportunity to test himself in European top-flight football after completing a loan move to KFC Komárno in Slovakia from Czech side MFK Karviná.
The 19-year-old centre-forward has joined Komárno until the end of the 2026/27 season, with the Slovakian club confirming the arrival of the promising Nigerian attacker as part of their squad reinforcement.
Akinwande arrives in Slovakia after making a strong impression in the Czech youth system. The 1.92m striker scored nine goals in nine matches for Karviná’s youth side, underlining his finishing ability and providing the platform for his move into senior football.
He also made his senior debut for MFK Karviná B in the Czech third-tier MSFL, featuring in the 2025/26 campaign before making another appearance at the beginning of the current season. Official league records list him with four MSFL appearances and 154 minutes overall.
Now, Akinwande faces a significantly bigger challenge in the Niké Liga, Slovakia’s top division, where he will have the opportunity to compete against established professional teams.
His move to KFC Komárno is viewed as an important development step, allowing the Nigerian forward to gain valuable senior experience and adapt to the physical and tactical demands of first-team football.
Komárno, based in southern Slovakia, have strengthened their squad with young African talent ahead of the ongoing campaign, with Akinwande joining Ghanaian winger Emmanuel Oppong as the club’s latest additions.
For Akinwande, the loan represents a chance to turn his impressive youth-level scoring record into senior-level performances.
The Nigerian will now look to establish himself in Slovakia, compete for regular playing time and show that his goalscoring form in the Czech youth league can translate to the professional stage.
At 19, the striker has already taken an important step from academy football into senior European competition.
Nine goals in nine youth games earned him the opportunity — now Okiki Akinwande has Slovakia waiting.
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