Nigeria wrapped up its campaign at the Riyadh 2025 Islamic Solidarity Games on a brilliant high, as para powerlifting icon Folashade Oluwafemiayo clinched gold in the Women’s Heavyweight event on Friday.
The world-record holder delivered another commanding performance, finishing ahead of Uzbekistan’s Kudratoy Toshpulatova and Jordan’s Asma Issa.
Read Also: University Don, Ken Gaddafi Unveils Seven-Point Blueprint to Revive Nigerian Football
Oluwafemiayo’s victory brought Nigeria’s final medal haul to 30 medals — 11 gold, 12 silver, and 7 bronze — securing an 8th-place overall finish and reaffirming Nigeria as Africa’s second-best team at the Games.
Her golden lift served as a fitting finale to a campaign defined by determination, competitive fire, and flashes of elite global quality.
At the summit of the standings, Türkiye dominated emphatically, amassing 155 medals, including an eye-catching 72 gold across athletics, combat sports, and team events.
Uzbekistan followed in second place with 96 medals, buoyed by their impressive 35 silver finishes that highlighted consistent podium contention.
Iran claimed third position with a total of 81 medals, leveraging their traditional strength in wrestling, weightlifting, and martial arts.
Hosts Saudi Arabia delivered one of their finest all-round performances—earning 18 gold medals and finishing fourth, a testament to their growing investment in both Olympic and para sports.
Egypt completed the top five, posting 17 gold medals and maintaining their status as one of Africa’s leading sporting nations.
Bahrain impressed in sixth with 16 gold medals, showcasing exceptional efficiency from a compact delegation, particularly in athletics and combat sports.
In seventh place, Kazakhstan produced a balanced showing with 56 medals, fueled by depth in technical and endurance events.
Nigeria’s 8th-place finish was powered by Oluwafemiayo’s final-day heroics, underlining the country’s competitive relevance on the global stage.
Morocco secured ninth position with 10 gold medals, excelling in taekwondo and track disciplines, while Azerbaijan rounded out the top ten with 59 medals, driven largely by their combat-sports tradition.
A total of 57 nations competed in the 2025 Islamic Solidarity Games, bringing the year to a close with a celebration of athletic excellence across the Muslim world.
