Weightlifting stars inspire Team Nigeria’s medal surge at Glasgow 2026

By Maxwell Kumoye

Team Nigeria enjoyed another fine day at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow on Monday, extending its impressive medal haul with three more gold medals in weightlifting while the athletics team made a strong start on the track by securing several semi-final places in the sprints ahead of a crucial Tuesday programme.

The country’s weightlifters once again stole the spotlight, producing record-breaking performances that underlined Nigeria’s dominance on the platform.

Edidiong Joseph Umoafia opened the day’s golden harvest by winning the men’s 71kg event in emphatic fashion.

Umoafia lifted a Commonwealth Games record total of 319kg, comprising a Games record 147kg in the snatch and 172kg in the clean and jerk, to comfortably finish ahead of Samoa’s Joseph Tafi (314kg) and Nauru’s Elgin Moses (310kg). His victory handed Team Nigeria its fourth gold medal of the Games.

The momentum continued in the women’s 53kg category as Onome Didih delivered another sensational performance.

The lifter shattered three Commonwealth Games records, lifting 93kg in the snatch, 113kg in the clean and jerk and compiling a total of 206kg to secure Nigeria’s fifth gold medal.

India’s Gyaneshwari Yadav settled for silver with 199kg, while Canada’s Rebeka Groulx claimed bronze with 178kg.

Not to be outdone, Rafiatu Folashade Lawal capped another remarkable evening for Team Nigeria in the women’s 58kg competition.

Lawal produced one of the finest displays of the Games, setting new Commonwealth Games and Commonwealth records in the snatch (103kg), clean and jerk (126kg) and total lift (229kg).

She finished an impressive 14kg clear of Canada’s Ann-Sophie Taschereau, who won silver with 215kg, as Nigeria celebrated its sixth gold medal in Glasgow.

While the weightlifters dominated the podium, Nigeria’s sprinters also made a strong statement as athletics competition gathered pace.

Favour Ashe looked composed in the men’s 100 metres, comfortably winning the opening heat in 10.10 seconds to qualify for Tuesday’s semi-finals.

Nicholas Fakorede also advanced after finishing second in Heat 10 with 10.21 seconds behind Lesotho’s Mojela Koneshe, who clocked a national record of 10.07 seconds.

The duo will be joined in the semi-finals by national record holder Kayinsola Ajayi, who progressed automatically by virtue of his world ranking.

The women’s 100 metres produced another encouraging display as 17-year-old Commonwealth Games debutant Miracle Oluebube Ezechukwu announced herself on the international stage by winning her heat from lane eight in 11.32 seconds.

She crossed the finish line ahead of Barbados’ Kishawna Niles and Ghana’s Deborah Acheampong to qualify automatically for the semi-finals.

However, Team Nigeria’s women’s sprint hopes have suffered a setback after Blessing Ogundiran was ruled out of the Games due to health challenges.

Her withdrawal means Nigeria will now be represented in the women’s 100m semi-finals by Rosemary Chukwuma and Miracle Ezechukwu.

In the field events, Oyesade Olatoye endured a disappointing outing in the women’s hammer throw qualification, finishing 10th in Group A.

Her best effort of 62.75m came on her second attempt after recording two fouls. Despite the difficult start, she remained positive as she turned her attention to future competitions.

With six gold medals already secured, Team Nigeria heads into Tuesday with one of its busiest and potentially most rewarding schedules of the Games.

The action begins with the women’s 400 metres first round, where experienced quarter-miler Patience Okon George will compete in Heat Two from lane six.

Armed with a season’s best of 51.41 seconds, she will be aiming to reach the semi-finals.

Esther Elo Joseph follows in Heat Three from lane two with a season’s best of 50.97 seconds, while Edidiong Udo carries Nigeria’s hopes in the men’s 400 metres, lining up in Heat One from lane four with a season’s best of 44.91 seconds.

Nigeria’s sprint campaign will intensify in the women’s 100 metres semi-finals. Rosemary Chukwuma has been drawn in the opening semi-final against a quality field that includes Michelle-Lee Ahye of Trinidad and Tobago, Australia’s Torrie Lewis, Jamaica’s Jodean Williams, England’s Mabel Akande and Canada’s Audrey Leduc.

Teenage sensation Miracle Ezechukwu will feature in Semi-final Three from lane six, where she faces Jamaica’s Jonielle Smith, New Zealand’s Zoe Hobbs, Australia’s Georgia Harris, Singapore’s Veronica Shanti Pereira and Canada’s Gabrielle Cole.

The men’s 100 metres semi-finals promise to be equally exciting for Team Nigeria.

Favour Ashe will run in Semi-final One from lane six after posting a season’s best of 9.93 seconds.

National record holder Kayinsola Ajayi, one of the favourites for the title following his outstanding 9.84-second season’s best, takes his place in Semi-final Two from lane four.

Fakorede completes the Nigerian trio in Semi-final Three from lane four with a season’s best of 9.98 seconds.

Nigeria will also have medal hopes in the field through high jumper Temitope Adeshina, who enters the women’s high jump final after clearing 1.97m this season, while Olatoye returns for the women’s hammer throw with a season’s best of 70.46m.

With the women’s and men’s 400 metres, high jump final, hammer throw, men’s and women’s 100 metres semi-finals and potential finals all scheduled for Tuesday, Team Nigeria faces one of its most significant days of competition in Glasgow.

Meanwhile, the Athletics Federation of Nigeria has been forced to reshuffle its sprint plans following the withdrawal of promising sprinter Israel Okon through injury.

Okon confirmed the news on his X account, revealing that he would miss the Commonwealth Games despite being entered for the men’s 100m, 200m and the 4x100m relay.

The young sprinter described 2026 as a breakthrough season after breaking the 10-second barrier in the 100m and running under 20 seconds in the 200m for the first time in his career.

Although disappointed to miss the Games, he wished Team Nigeria every success in Glasgow.

His absence leaves a significant gap, particularly in Nigeria’s relay squad, forcing the coaching crew to make late adjustments.

Nevertheless, with an experienced group of world-class sprinters and the confidence gained from an outstanding opening to the athletics programme, Team Nigeria remains optimistic about maintaining its impressive medal charge at the 2026 Commonwealth Games