Team Nigeria will depart for Moka, Mauritius, today (Monday) to compete at the 2025 African Weightlifting Championship, scheduled from April 20 to 28, as they continue their quest for medals and continental dominance, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
The travelling delegation comprises six elite athletes and two coaches, entering the 35th edition with momentum, having performed well at the last Championship in Egypt, finishing with six gold and five silver medals.
Rafiatu Folashade Lawal won three gold medals in the women’s 59 kg category, dominating the snatch, clean and jerk, and total lifts. In the same weight class, Adijat Adenike Olarinoye followed her closely as runners-up, winning three silver medals.
Joy Ogbonne Eze also swept all three gold medals in the women’s 71 kg category, while Edidiong Joseph Umoafia picked up two silver medals in the men’s 73 kg snatch and total.
Backing the team ahead of their departure, the National Sports Commission reaffirmed its commitment to investing in weightlifting, where Nigeria holds a competitive advantage. According to NSC Director General, Bukola Olopade, the commission’s long-term strategy is anchored in deliberate support for medal-yielding disciplines such as weightlifting.
“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 won 87 gold, 52 silver, and 16 bronze medals at the African Weightlifting Championships, amassing a total of 155 and ranking third on the all-time medal table behind Tunisia and Egypt. Tunisia leads with 150 gold medals, followed by Egypt with 134.
The Mauritius championships serve as a ranking event recognised by the International Weightlifting Federation and offer a valuable benchmark as Nigeria continues preparations for upcoming global competitions.
