Nigeria continued its commanding run at the ongoing 2026 African Senior Weightlifting Championships and 16th Mediterranean Cup in Ismaila, Egypt, on Thursday. After two days of competition, the country has an outstanding return of 10 gold and five silver medals.
The championships, which also serve as qualifiers for the 2026 Commonwealth Games, have witnessed Nigeria emerge as one of the strongest teams. The country's women lifters once again delivered dominant performances across multiple weight categories.
Ruth Nyong Asuquo Shines in 48kg Category
Ruth Nyong Asuquo, Onome Omolola Didih, and Rafiat Afolashade Lawal spearheaded Nigeria's impressive campaign. Each athlete secured three gold medals in their respective divisions, accounting for nine of the country's 10 gold medals as of the second day.
Competing in the women's 48kg category, Asuquo produced a confident and dominant display. The Nigerian lifter claimed gold in all three events after outperforming her rivals in the snatch, clean and jerk, and overall total. She lifted 74kg in the snatch to finish comfortably ahead of Madagascar's Tendry Tsiky Mahavy Rakotonoely, who settled for silver with 60kg, while Tunisia's Maissa Khadhraoui claimed bronze with 59kg. Asuquo followed up with another strong performance in the clean and jerk, successfully clearing 93kg to win her second gold medal ahead of Khadhraoui's 78kg and Rakotonoely's 76kg. Her combined total of 167kg earned her a third gold medal, with Tunisia taking silver on 137kg and Madagascar finishing with bronze on 136kg.
Onome Omolola Didih Dominates 53kg Category
Nigeria's dominance continued in the women's 53kg category through Onome Omolola Didih, who controlled the event from the opening lifts and secured gold medals across all three sections. Didih lifted 87kg in the snatch to finish ahead of Egypt's representative on 79kg, while South Africa secured bronze with 75kg. In the clean and jerk, the Nigerian successfully lifted 105kg to secure another gold medal, edging both Egypt and South Africa, who each managed 98kg. Her overall total of 192kg sealed a third gold medal, comfortably ahead of Egypt's 177kg and South Africa's 173kg.
Rafiat Afolashade Lawal Extends Golden Run
Rafiat Afolashade Lawal also extended Nigeria's golden run in the women's 58kg division, where she secured another clean sweep of three gold medals to further underline Nigeria's superiority in the women's events and strengthen the country's qualification push for the 2026 Commonwealth Games.
Favour Omovigho Agboro Excels in Men's 65kg
In the men's 65kg category, Favour Omovigho Agboro delivered one of Nigeria's most competitive outings of the championships. Although Egypt's Mohamed Mahmoud Noureldin finished top overall, Agboro impressed with his consistency and resilience to win one gold medal and two silver medals. Agboro lifted 123kg in the snatch to finish second behind Noureldin's 132kg, while Tunisia's Mohamed Amine Bouhajba took bronze with 121kg. The Nigerian responded strongly in the clean and jerk, lifting 157kg to claim gold ahead of the Egyptian's 156kg, while Tunisia finished third with 146kg. Agboro's combined total of 280kg earned him another silver medal, with Noureldin winning the overall gold on 288kg and Tunisia taking bronze with 267kg.
Ruth Imoleayo Ayodele Wins Three Silvers
Nigeria also secured another podium finish through Ruth Imoleayo Ayodele in the women's 63kg category, where she produced a composed performance to win three silver medals. Ayodele lifted 90kg in the snatch to finish narrowly behind Tunisia's Chaina Rahmouni, who recorded 91kg. The Nigerian added another silver medal in the clean and jerk after lifting 110kg, just one kilogram behind the Tunisian athlete once again. Her total lift also earned her a silver medal after finishing only two kilograms behind Rahmouni, while Madagascar's Soloniaina Randriamparany claimed the bronze medal in the category.
