Team Nigeria will head into Tuesday’s athletics programme brimming with confidence after another memorable day at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, where the country’s weightlifters produced three gold medals and a string of record-breaking performances to strengthen Nigeria’s position on the medals table.
The latest victories lifted Nigeria’s tally to six gold and four silver medals, with the athletics team now carrying the nation’s hopes in four medal events while several sprinters also prepare for crucial 100m semi-finals.
Rafiatu Folashade Lawal led Monday’s charge with a commanding display in the women’s 58kg weightlifting event. The reigning Commonwealth champion opened with a 103kg snatch to establish a comfortable advantage before producing a 126kg clean and jerk to finish with a Games record total of 229kg and claim another gold medal. Canada’s Ann-Sophie Taschereau settled for silver with 215kg, while India’s Bindyarani Devi Sorokhaibam claimed bronze with 199kg.
Edidiong Joseph Umoafia had earlier set the tone by winning the men’s 71kg title with a Commonwealth Games record total of 319kg after lifting 147kg in the snatch and 172kg in the clean and jerk. Samoa’s John Lautafi Tafi finished with silver on 314kg, while Nauru’s Ezekiel Moses claimed bronze with 310kg.
Onome Omolola Didih completed Nigeria’s golden hat-trick in the women’s 53kg category. She broke the Commonwealth and Games record with a 93kg snatch before sealing victory with a combined total of 206kg, another Games record. India’s Gyaneshwari Yadav took silver with 199kg, while Canada’s Rebeka Groulx earned bronze with 178kg.
The latest triumphs mean Nigeria has now won three gold and one silver medal in weightlifting, adding to Ruth Asuquo Nyong’s silver in the women’s 48kg event. Favour Agboro narrowly missed the podium after placing fourth in the men’s 65kg competition. The country’s para powerlifters have also enjoyed a remarkable campaign, with Esther Nworgu, Folashade Oluwafemiayo and Riluwan Idris winning gold, while Esther Oyema, Roland Ezuruike and Rita Ferdinand secured silver medals.
Attention now shifts to the athletics programme, where Team Nigeria will have medal hopes in four events on Tuesday.
Reigning national 100m champion Favour Ashe will lead Nigeria’s men’s sprint challenge after winning his heat in 10.10 seconds. He will be joined in the semi-finals by Fakorede Adekalu and Nigerian record holder Kayinsola Ajayi.
In the women’s 100m, African U-20 champion Miracle Ezechukwu enjoyed an impressive Commonwealth Games debut by winning her heat in 11.32 seconds from lane eight. Blessing Ogundiran and Rosemary Chukwuma also qualified automatically, giving Nigeria three representatives in the semi-finals.
Nigeria will also be represented in two field event finals, with Temitope Adeshina set to compete in the women’s high jump final, while Sade Olatoye will battle for a podium finish in the women’s hammer throw after successfully advancing through qualification.
Having already enjoyed one of its most productive starts to a Commonwealth Games campaign, Team Nigeria will be hoping Tuesday brings another wave of medals as the athletics competition gathers pace in Glasgow.
