Team Nigeria reaffirmed its dominance in West African sports after finishing top of the medals table at the 2025 ANOCA Zone III Games, claiming an impressive 16 gold, 3 silver, and 2 bronze medals across four sporting events — Badminton, Taekwondo, Weightlifting, and Wrestling.
The country’s athletes delivered commanding performances over five days of intense competition in Ouagadougou, showcasing skill, discipline, and resilience that drew applause from sports stakeholders across the continent.
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Reacting to the team’s success, the Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Hon. Bukola Olopade, lauded the athletes and their coaches for their commitment and patriotism, describing their efforts as “a labour of love that has made the nation proud.”
“I want to salute each and every one of you, including your coaches, for putting aside every challenge to achieve this great feat,” Olopade said. “The country is proud of you, and your sacrifices will not be taken for granted.”
Olopade reaffirmed the NSC’s commitment — under the leadership of Mallam Shehu Dikko — to continue working closely with the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) in enhancing athlete welfare and creating an enabling environment for sporting excellence.
“When we take care of our athletes, they will take care of us with medals,” he added, linking the achievement to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s mandate to build a sustainable sports economy.
In his remarks, NOC President, Engr. Habu Gumel, also commended the athletes for their outstanding performances, noting that their success reflects the growing synergy between the NOC and the NSC.
“The athletes have represented the country and the Zone remarkably well,” Gumel said. “This performance will serve as valuable preparation for next month’s Solidarity Games in Saudi Arabia.”
He emphasized that continuous participation in international competitions is part of the broader strategy to prepare Nigerian athletes for major global events like the Commonwealth Games, All Africa Games, and the Olympic Games.
With this remarkable showing in Ouagadougou, Nigeria once again underlined its status as a regional powerhouse in sports — setting the tone for more international triumphs in the months ahead.
