Nigeria’s Raheem Ridwan Opeyemi suffered a narrow defeat in his opening bout at the ongoing Islamic Solidarity Games in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on Saturday.
Ridwan Raheem who fought spiritedly lost by split decision to Uzbekistan’s Abdullahi Madaminov in the men’s 65kg quarterfinals.
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The fiercely contested match saw both boxers display great skill and determination over three intense rounds.
Ridwan Raheem started brightly, using his quick footwork and sharp combinations to keep his opponent on the back foot in the opening exchanges.
However, Madaminov grew into the contest, responding with powerful counters and consistent body shots that tested the Nigerian’s defense.
After three rounds of action, the judges returned a 4–1 split decision in favour of the Uzbek boxer.
The result that ended Ridwan’s campaign at the quarterfinal stage. It was a heartbreaking outcome for the Nigerian, who had trained rigorously in preparation for the Games and dashed his hope to secure a medal for Team Nigeria
Despite the loss, Ridwan’s performance drew praise from spectators and officials, who commended his fighting spirit and technical discipline throughout the bout.
The Nigerian boxing contingent will now look to regroup and focus on their remaining athletes as the tournament progresses.
The Islamic Solidarity Games, which bring together athletes from across the Muslim world, continue in Riyadh with more Nigerian representatives set to compete in boxing, athletics, and other disciplines.
