Team Nigeria will depart for Moka, Mauritius, today (Monday) to compete in the 2025 African Weightlifting Championship, which runs from April 20 to 28.
The delegation, comprising six elite athletes and two coaches, heads into the 35th edition with high expectations following a strong performance at the last championship in Egypt, where they claimed six gold and five silver medals.
Among the top performers, Rafiatu Folashade Lawal dominated the women’s 59 kg category, winning gold in the snatch, clean and jerk, and total lifts. Her compatriot, Adijat Adenike Olarinoye, secured three silver medals in the same category. Joy Ogbonne Eze clinched three golds in the women’s 71 kg event, while Edidiong Joseph Umoafia earned two silver medals in the men’s 73 kg snatch and total.
Ahead of the team’s departure, the National Sports Commission (NSC) reaffirmed its commitment to investing in weightlifting. NSC Director General, Bukola Olopade, highlighted the nation’s track record in the sport and its potential to deliver medals on global stages.
“Weightlifting is a sport where Nigeria has consistently excelled, whether at the African level, the Commonwealth Games, the Olympic Games, or the Paralympics,” Olopade said. “Our athletes have not only won medals but also set world records, and we’re confident they will make the nation proud once again.”
Since 2008, Nigeria has secured 87 gold, 52 silver, and 16 bronze medals at the African Weightlifting Championships, totaling 155. The country currently ranks third on the all-time medal table, behind Tunisia with 150 golds and Egypt with 134.
The Mauritius championship is a ranking event sanctioned by the International Weightlifting Federation and serves as a key benchmark for Nigeria’s preparations for future international competitions.
