Umoafia Eyes on Olympic Success after Emerging First Nigerian Male Lifter to Win Gold in 16 Years

*Team Nigeria wins three more gold medals in weightlifting *More expected from track & field today

 Duro Ikhazuagbe in Glasgow

Shortly after he won Nigeria’s fourth gold medal in the 71kg category of the weightlifting event of the ongoing 2026 Commonwealth Games here in Glasgow, Scotland, Edidiong Joseph Umoafia insisted that he now have his eyes on the next Olympic Games scheduled to hold in 2028 in Los Angeles, USA.

Umoafia who won the gold with a new Commonwealth Games record of 319kg, is the first male Nigeria weightlifter to win the precious medal in almost 16 years. All previous weightlifting gold medals won by Team Nigeria at New Delhi 2010, Glasgow 2014, and Birmingham 2022 were won by female weightlifters.

Umoafia set the tone early with a Commonwealth Games record total of 319kg. The Nigerian lifted a Games record 147kg in the Snatch before adding 172kg in the Clean and Jerk to finish ahead of Samoa’s Joseph Tafi (314kg) and Nauru’s Elgin Moses (310kg).

Speaking with THISDAY shortly after he was presented with his medal, Udoafia expressed his excitement ending the dominance of the female weightlifters for Nigeria.

“I am really happy becoming the first male weightlifter to win gold at the Commonwealth Games for Nigeria. It was not an easy route to the gold. After I won a bronze medal at the last Games in Birmingham, I told myself that I was not going to leave Glasgow without winning the gold medal. I prepared for four years. I am happy I fulfilled my promise to deliver the precious gold for Nigeria,’ gushed Umoafia from the event venue at the Hydro Stadium.

He admitted that his next target now is to aim for a medal at the next Olympic Games scheduled for Los Angeles in 2028.

“After the celebration of this victory here, I will start my training again as the qualifiers for the 2028 Olympic Games are scheduled to begin in December. I just pray that this beautiful support from the government through the National Sports Commission that is giving all of us the encouragement to perform wonders here continues,” stressed the Commonwealth Games champions.

Also yesterday, the Day Four performance by Team Nigeria was highlighted by the three more gold medals in weightlifting. Apart from Umoafia, Onome Didih did the unimaginable with a commanding performance in the women’s 53kg category to claim the country’s fifth gold medal.

Didih rewrote the record books, setting new Commonwealth Games records in the snatch (93kg), clean and jerk (113kg) with total lift of 206kg. India’s Gyaneshwari Yadav finished with 199kg to take silver, while Canada’s Rebeka Groulx claimed bronze with 178kg.

Rafiatu Folashade Lawal delivered the country’s sixth gold medal of the Games with a record-shattering performance in the women’s 58kg weightlifting event. 

Lawal swept all before her, setting new Commonwealth Games and Commonwealth records in the snatch (103kg), clean and jerk (126kg) and total lift (229kg). Her combined total left her a commanding 14kg clear of Canada’s Ann-Sophie Taschereau, who finished with 215kg for silver.

Just as promised by the National Sports Commission, each gold medal winner received $5000 instant cash reward and additional $5,000 performance bonus paid into their accounts.

Elsewhere at the Scotstoun Stadium, the country’s track & field team began their quest for medals with Team Nigeria’s sprinters making strong statements by securing multiple semifinal places in the men and women’s 100 metres.

Favour Ashe comfortably won the opening heat of the men’s 100m in 10.10 seconds (+1.5) to book his place in today’s semifinals.  Nicholas Fakorede followed with an impressive second-place finish in Heat 10, clocking 10.21 seconds (+1.4) behind Lesotho’s Mojela Koneshe, whose 10.07 seconds established a new national record.

Fakorede joins Ashe and national record holder Kayinsola Ajayi, who received a bye, in the semifinal lineup.

In the women’s 100m, 17-year-old Commonwealth Games debutant, Miracle Ezechukwu, announced herself in style, winning her heat from lane eight in 11.32 seconds (-1.5).

 She crossed the line ahead of Barbados’ Kishawna Niles and Ghana’s Deborah Acheampong to qualify automatically for the semifinals.

Ezechukwu will be joined by Blessing Ogundiran and Rosemary Chukwuma, giving Team Nigeria three athletes in the women’s semifinal.

Sade Olatoye endured a difficult start after finishing 10th in Group A of women’s Hammer Throw. She held her head up after not getting the finish she hoped for. Olatoye threw a mark of 62.75m on her second attempt, with two faults in three attempts. Olatoye threw a mark of 62.75m on her second attempt.