Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Mallam Shehu Dikko has opined that the recent triumph of the country’s weightlifting team at the African championship shows that Nigeria is moving in the right direction.
Sports247 reports that Dikko also showered encomiums on lifters, coaches and officials of Nigerian Weightlifting Federation (NWF), as he rated their performance during the championship in Ismaila, Egypt as very promising.
Dikko further described the delegation’s overall performance in The Land Of The Pharaohs as a motivation for other athletes from the country to do better in days to come, especially with the 2026 Commonwealth Games around the corner.
He noted that the squad from Nigeria rounded off their outstanding run at the African Senior Weightlifting Championship on Saturday with five more medals to close the competition with a total of 14 gold, 13 silver and two bronze.
The women secured a third-place finish after winning 12 gold and six silver, as Ruth Asuquo Nyong dazzled in the 48kg category with three gold medals, while Onome Omolola Didih also claimed three gold medals in the 53kg division.
Commonwealth Games’ reigning champion, Rafiatu Folashade Lawal maintained her dominance in the 58kg class with another three gold medals, while Liadi Taiwo added three gold medals in the 77kg category.
Ruth Imoleayo Ayodele contributed three silver medals in the 63kg event, while Mary Osijo wrapped up her campaign in the 79kg class with three silver medals after lifting 95kg in snatch and 116kg in clean and jerk for a total of 211kg.
In the men’s events, Favour Omovigho Agboro won one gold and two silver in the 65kg category, while Edidiong Joseph Umoafia also secured the same hail in the 71kg division and Adedapo Adeleke Opadeji got three silver medals in the 79kg.
Lucky Joseph concluded Nigeria’s campaign in the +110kg class with two bronze medals after lifting 145kg in snatch and 170kg in clean and jerk for a combined total of 315kg; all of which Dikko described as commendable achievements.
While noting that the team finished with an impressive haul of 29 medals overall, as the competition came to a close on Saturday, Dikko posited, “This performance is a strong statement that Nigerian sports is moving in the right direction.
“Our athletes have continued to show courage, discipline and excellence when they step on the international stage. Winning 29 medals at the African Championship is not just a victory for weightlifting, but a proud moment for the entire nation.”
