Nigeria closed the 2026 African Senior Weightlifting Championship in Ismailia, Egypt, with a commanding medal haul of 29 in total—14 gold, 13 silver and two bronze—marking one of the strongest performances by any team at the meet.
The Nigerian squad, made up of 10 athletes and three officials, wrapped up proceedings on Saturday by adding a further five medals, reinforcing the country’s growing dominance in continental weightlifting.
Quick facts
- Nigeria won 29 medals at the 2026 African Senior Weightlifting Championship in Ismailia, Egypt.
- Breakdown: 14 gold, 13 silver, two bronze.
- The team had 10 athletes and three officials.
- Competition dates: began on May 10 and ended on Saturday.
- Nigeria’s women finished third overall on the continent, supplying 12 gold and six silver medals.
Female lifters proved decisive for Nigeria, helping the team secure third place overall on the continent’s women’s standings. Their contributions included 12 gold medals and six silver medals toward Nigeria’s overall tally.
Ruth Asuquo Nyong set the tone early, delivering a perfect run with three gold medals in the women’s 48kg division. Onome Omolola Didih then matched the same three-gold clean sweep in the 53kg class, before Rafiatu Folashade Lawal extended the momentum with another trio of golds in the 58kg category.
Liadi Taiwo produced a standout showing in the women’s 77kg category, collecting three gold medals and recording a total lift of 243kg.
Ruth Imoleayo Ayodele also played a major role in Nigeria’s medal streak, adding three silver medals in the women’s 63kg event.
Men’s medal haul
In the men’s competitions, Favour Omovigho Agboro claimed one gold and two silvers in the 65kg category. Edidiong Joseph Umoafia followed with the same medal pattern—one gold and two silver—inside the 71kg weight class.
Adedapo Adeleke Opadeji completed Nigeria’s men’s scoring in the 79kg division by collecting three silver medals.
On the final day, Mary Osijo delivered a trio of silver medals in the women’s 86kg category, recording 95kg in the snatch and 116kg in the clean and jerk for a combined total of 211kg.
Lucky Joseph closed Nigeria’s campaign with two bronze medals in the men’s +110kg category. He lifted 145kg in the snatch and 170kg in the clean and jerk to finish with a total of 315kg.
The championship started on May 10 and concluded on Saturday, with Nigeria’s contingent expected to return home on Sunday.
