Nigeria Aims For 6 Boxing Golds At 2026 Commonwealth Games

The Nigerian Boxing Federation (NBF) has set an ambitious goal of winning six gold medals at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, as preparations ramp up with 40 fighters entering a crucial training camp.

According to Ireporter Online, Vice President of the federation, Omonlei Imadu, disclosed the target at the conclusion of a five-day open trial held at the Brai Ayonote Boxing Complex in the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.

“Our target is 10 medals, six gold, while the remaining can be silver and bronze. We are fully committed to making this a reality in Glasgow,” Imadu stated. He added that the next camping phase will determine the final team of 10 boxers to represent Nigeria at the Games.

The training camp comprises 40 fighters, including 20 finalists from the trials—10 men and 10 women—and an additional 20 boxers, many of whom reached the semi-finals. The trials drew 128 athletes, with 101 men and 27 women competing across 10 weight divisions.

UK-based African Games gold medallist Patricia Mbata led the women’s finalists after impressing during the trials, while Kenneth Anigboro topped the men’s 90kg division. Other female finalists include Udoette Happiness, Gafar Fathia, Ajishola Kadijat, Gbadamosi Aishat, Sodipe Damilola, Ismail Abibat, Blessing Orakwe, James Queen, and Odoka Celestina. 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 observed the trials, commended the federation for its organization and expressed optimism about Nigeria’s medal prospects. “We are doing everything possible to ensure Nigeria has a successful outing at the Games, and the prospects in boxing truly excite me,” he said.

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

The 2026 Commonwealth Games are scheduled to run from July 24 to August 1 at the SEC Centre in Glasgow, with boxing featuring 14 events equally split between men and women.