Joel Ajayi
Nigeria’s weightlifting contingent will depart for Moka, Mauritius, on Monday to participate in the 2025 African Weightlifting Championship, scheduled to hold from April 20 to 28.
The delegation includes six elite athletes and two coaches, all poised to defend the country’s continental title.
Speaking ahead of the team’s departure, National Sports Commission’s (NSC) leadership emphasized the deliberate investment in the weightlifting as part of its broader strategy to support sports where the nation holds a competitive edge.
“Weightlifting is a sport where Nigeria has consistently excelled—whether at the African level, the Commonwealth Games, the Olympic Games, or the Paralympics,” NSC DG, Hon. Bukola 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.”
Nigeria enters the competition on the back of a dominant showing at the 2024 edition in Egypt.
In the last edition, Nigeria amassed an impressive haul of six gold and five silver medals. The team’s performance solidified Nigeria’s reputation as a weightlifting powerhouse on the continent.
The championships in Mauritius will serve as a critical benchmark for Nigeria’s ongoing preparations toward global competitions ranked by the International Weightlifting Federation.
