Nigeria Boxing Team Faces Elimination at Commonwealth Games

At the 23rd Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, Nigeria's boxing campaign suffered another setback as Ajishola Kadijat was eliminated in the women’s 54kg round of 16. The 19-year-old lost a closely contested bout to Wales’ Helen Jones by a narrow split decision of 3-2 at the SEC Centre.

This defeat marked the fourth elimination for Nigeria, following earlier losses by Ayomide Foly Hassan, who lost 4-0 to Lesotho’s Refiloe Thai in the men’s 70kg Round of 32, Abdulramon Abdulwahab, and David Akintola, who was defeated 4-1 by Tanzania’s Yusef Lucasi Changalewa in the men’s 80kg Round of 32. With four out of six boxers eliminated, the pressure is now on Nigeria’s remaining fighters, Patricia Mbata and Blessing Orakwe, to salvage the campaign.

Mbata is set to face England’s Mary Smith in the women’s 75kg quarter-final on July 28, while Orakwe will compete against Australia’s Lekeisha Pergoliti in the women’s 70kg quarter-final on July 29. Historically, boxing has been a strong medal-producing sport for Nigeria at the Commonwealth Games, but the team has yet to secure a breakthrough in Glasgow.