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Nigeria Confident as Commonwealth Games Boxing Team Named
Nigeria selects Commonwealth Games Boxing Team with ten fighters after national trials ahead of Glasgow 2026
The Nigeria Boxing Federation has finalised the Commonwealth Games Boxing Team, naming ten fighters to represent the country at the 2026 Glasgow Games following a fiercely contested national trial at the National Stadium in Lagos.
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The week-long trials attracted 128 amateur boxers from across Nigeria and abroad, competing for five men’s and five women’s slots.
Patricia Mbata, 2023 African Games gold medallist, delivered a commanding performance in the women’s +70kg final, defeating reigning national champion Blessing Orakwe with a 5–0 unanimous decision.
Mbata, who also works as a construction engineer in the United Kingdom, confirmed her position as a top medal prospect for Glasgow.
The women’s squad also features Happiness Udoette (51kg), Kadijat Ajibola (57kg), Damilola Sodipe (65kg), and Celestine Edoka (70kg), all of whom secured their places in closely fought bouts.
The men’s competition was equally competitive.
Diaspora boxer Kenneth Anigboro, based in Yorkshire, United Kingdom, captured the 90kg title. Michael Ogunremi (55kg), Wahab Abdulrahman (65kg), Folly Hassan (70kg), and Joseph Daniel (80kg) rounded off the men’s team with strong performances.
Several standout fighters who did not win their categories will join the national camp as sparring partners to strengthen preparations.
Babatunde Laguda, NBF Technical Director, commended the athletes and officials for their dedication.
“Winning does not always mean you are the best, so we will still invite some of the outstanding boxers as sparring partners. Their contributions will be vital to the team’s success,” Laguda said, highlighting the growing depth of Nigerian amateur boxing.
The newly selected squad aims to improve on the nine-member team’s performance at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, where Nigeria secured four medals, including a silver for Elizabeth Oshoba and bronzes for Cynthia Ogunsemilore, Jacinta Umunnakwe, and Ifeanyi Onyekwere.
Preparations will now shift to intensive training and tactical refinement ahead of Glasgow, where the Commonwealth Games run from July 24 to August 1 at the SEC Centre in Scotland.
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Boxing will feature 14 medal events alongside athletics, swimming, gymnastics, cycling, netball, bowls, and basketball.
President Bola Tinubu has rejoiced with the Group Chief Executive of Oando Plc, Adewale Tinubu, who clocked 59 years and has had a resounding impact on Nigeria’s energy sector.
A statement by presidential spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, said the President shared in the joy of celebrating Forbes’s “African King of Oil”, whose entrepreneurial and innovative spirit transformed Oando from a petroleum marketing company into a fully integrated energy group with upstream, midstream, and downstream operations.
President Tinubu noted the economic impact of the attorney and businessman’s investment in creating job opportunities for many Nigerians, spearheading landmark deals such as the ConocoPhillips acquisition and the historic listing on the South African and Nigerian stock exchanges.
The President commended the Group Chief Executive of Oando for championing the government’s local content development by leading indigenous companies to participate in the oil and gas sector and taking frontline roles in environmental protection.
He acknowledged the visionary role of Wale Tinubu in establishing the Oando Foundation in 2011, which currently supports more than 88 schools across the country and promotes community development and environmental sustainability.
President Tinubu prayed for the well-being of the entrepreneur and his family.
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