Nigeria Targets Six Boxing Golds At 2026 Commonwealth Games

The Nigerian Boxing Federation (NBF) has set an ambitious target of six gold medals at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, as preparations intensify with 40 fighters heading into a decisive training camp.

Vice President of the federation, Omonlei Imadu, revealed the target at the end of the five-day open trials held at the Brai Ayonote Boxing Complex inside the National Stadium Surulere in Lagos on Friday.

“Our target is 10 medals, six gold, while others can come in silver and bronze colours. We are truly determined to make this a reality in Glasgow,” Imadu said.

He noted that the next phase of camping would determine the final team of 10 boxers who will represent Nigeria at the Games.

“We have moved focus now to the camping phase. We aim to ensure that the boxers are in perfect shape during and after the camping,” he added.

The camp will feature 40 fighters. They include 20 finalists from the trials made up of 10 men and 10 women, along with 20 additional boxers, some of whom reached the semi-finals. The trials attracted 128 athletes. A total of 101 men and 27 women competed across 10 weight divisions.

UK-based fighter Patricia Mbata, an African Games gold medallist, led the women’s finalists after impressing during the trials. In the men’s division, Kenneth Anigboro emerged top in the 90kg class.

Other women who made the finalists’ list are Udoette Happiness, Gafar Fathia, Ajishola Kadijat, Gbadamosi Aishat, Sodipe Damilola, Ismail Abibat, Blessing Orakwe, James Queen and Odoka Celestina.

The male finalists include Ogunremi Michael, Habeeb Qazeem, Abdulwahab Abdulrahmon, Saliu Ridwan, Folly Hassan, Nwoha Precious, Daniel Joshua, Sharafadeen Fawas, Kenneth Anigboro and Abiodun Adesoji.

Director General of the National Sports Commission, Bukola Olopade, who watched the trials, praised the federation for the organisation of the event and expressed optimism about Nigeria’s medal chances.

“We are doing everything possible to ensure that Nigeria have a successful outing at the Games, and the prospects in boxing truly excite me,” he said.

Nigeria will be aiming to surpass its performance at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. At that tournament, a nine-man squad led by captain Abdul-Afeez Osoba secured four medals. Elizabeth Oshoba claimed silver, while Cynthia Ogunsemilore, Jacinta Umunnakwe and Ifeanyi Onyekwere won bronze.

The 2026 Commonwealth Games will run from July 24 to August 1 at the SEC Centre in Glasgow. Boxing will feature 14 events, split evenly between men and women.