Ghana suffered a heartbreaking setback on the penultimate day of the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games after being denied a bronze medal in the men's 4x100m relay following Canada's successful appeal against its disqualification on Saturday night.
Canada, who finished second behind Australia in a thrilling final, were initially disqualified for a lane violation, along with South Africa.
The decision elevated Ghana, who had crossed the line in fourth place, into the bronze medal position behind Nigeria, sparking celebrations in the Ghanaian camp.
However, those celebrations lasted less than an hour after Canada's protest was upheld, restoring the North Americans to second place.
Nigeria retained the bronze medal, while Ghana slipped back to fourth.
Canada reinstated in second place and wins silver, with Ghana dropping out of the medal places into 4th in men’s 4x100m relay #Glasgow#CommonwealthGames2026 pic.twitter.com/pqvCghRnq1
— DailyGraphic GraphicOnline (@Graphicgh) August 2, 2026
The Ghanaian quartet of Benjamin Azamati, team captain Joseph Paul Amoah, Mustapha Bokpin and anchor Abdul-Rasheed Saminu saw their hopes of winning the nation's first Commonwealth Games men's 4x100m relay medal since 1974 cruelly dashed.
Ghana previously claimed relay medals at the 1962 and 1966 Games before earning bronze in 1974.
Ghanaian officials, led by Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC) President Richard Akpokavie, lodged a counter-protest, arguing that eventual winners Australia, competing in lane eight, had also encroached into Ghana's lane during the anchor leg.
The Ghanaian quartet clocked 38.13 seconds in one of the closest relay finals in Commonwealth Games history, finishing behind Australia (38.07), Canada (38.11) and West African rivals Nigeria, who claimed bronze in a season's best 38.12.
Just 0.06 seconds separated the top four teams, underlining the exceptional quality and competitiveness of the race.
The devastating outcome left Ghana with just two medals at Glasgow 2026, following para thrower Zinabu Issah's silver medal in the women's F57 shot put and boxer Amadu Mohammed's bronze in the men's 55kg division.
The 23rd Commonwealth Games, which began on July 23 following the official opening by King Charles III, conclude on Sunday with the closing ceremony at the OVO Hydro in Glasgow.
