Commonwealth Games : Nigeria’s boxing medal hopes hang by a thread as three crash out in Glasgow

Nigeria’s hopes of winning a boxing medal at the 23rd Commonwealth Games in Glasgow are rapidly fading after another disappointing day in the ring saw a fourth boxer bow out of the competition.

With more than half of the country’s six-man boxing contingent, comprising of three makes and one female, already eliminated at the first hurdle, the pressure is now firmly on the two remaining fighters in the quarter- final stage to rescue what is quickly turning into a disastrous campaign.

The latest casualty is 19-year-old Kadijat Ajishola, who suffered a narrow 3-2 defeat to Wales’ Helen Jones in the women’s 54kg Round of 16. Despite a spirited performance,

Ajishola could not do enough to keep Nigeria’s medal dream alive, becoming the third Nigerian boxer to exit the Games.

Her elimination follows the early departures of Ayomide Foly Hassan and David Akintola.

Hassan was the first Nigerian to fall, losing 4-0 on points to Lesotho’s Refiloe in the men’s 70kg Round of 32. The defeat ended his Commonwealth Games campaign before it could gain any momentum.

Akintola, one of Nigeria’s highly-rated prospects in the men’s 80kg division, also failed to progress after a disappointing 4-1 loss to Tanzania’s Yusef Lucasi Changalewa in the Round of 32 at the SEC Centre.

With four defeats from four completed bouts, Nigeria’s boxing team has endured a nightmare start in Glasgow.

Only two Nigerian boxers remain in contention, and they now carry the nation’s slim hopes of preventing a medal-less outing in the boxing event.

Another defeat would leave Nigeria empty-handed in a sport that has historically delivered memorable performances on the Commonwealth stage.