Nigeria shines at African Weightlifting Champs with 10 gold medals
Nigeria’s weightlifters have made a powerful statement at the 2026 African Senior Weightlifting Championship and 16th Mediterranean Cup in Ismaila, Egypt, claiming 10 gold medals and five silver medals after just two days of competition.
The competition, which doubles as qualifiers for the 2026 Commonwealth Games, have witnessed Team Nigeria emerge as one of the standout nations, with the country’s female athletes delivering dominant performances on the continental stage.
Leading Nigeria’s charge are Ruth Asuquo, Onome Didih and Rofiat Lawal who each secured three gold medals in their respective categories to account for nine of the nation’s gold haul. Their commanding displays further underlined Nigeria’s growing strength in African weightlifting.
In the women’s 48kg category, Asuquo lifted 74kg to snatch gold, she also claimed another gold in the clean and jerk lifting 93kg as her combined total of 167kg won her a third gold medal for Team Nigeria.
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Similarly, Didih was also dominant in the women’s 53kg category lifting 87kg in the snatch event. She also followed with 105kg in the clean and jerk with her combined total of 192kg sealing a third gold medal.
Lawal was also not left out in the gold rush as she showed dominance with a clean sweep in the 58kg, while in the men’s 65kg category Favour Agboro lifted 123kg in the snatch, 157kg in the clean and jerk, with a combined total of 280kg earning him one gold and two silver medals.
In the women’s 63kg category, Ruth Ayodele clinched three silver medals as she lifted 90kg in the snatch and 110kg in the clean and jerk with her combined total 200kg winning her a third silver medal.
