Team Nigeria Takes Care of Business, With Weightlifting Gold Sweep and Sprint Surge on Day 4

AFOLABI SAHEED OLAWALE 

Team Nigeria continued its outstanding campaign at the 2026 Commonwealth Games on Monday, producing a memorable Day Four performance highlighted by three gold medals in weightlifting and impressive displays on the athletics track as the country’s medal charge gathered further momentum in Glasgow, Scotland.

Edidiong Joseph Umoafia set the tone early, powering to gold in the men’s 71kg weightlifting event 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). The victory delivered Nigeria’s fourth gold medal of the Games.

Nigeria’s golden run continued in the women’s 53kg event as Onome Didih did the incredible, with a commanding performance 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) and total lift (206kg). India’s Gyaneshwari Yadav finished with 199kg to take silver, while Canada’s Rebeka Groulx claimed bronze with 178kg.

Team Nigeria’s golden run continued in spectacular fashion Monday evening, as 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.

On the track, Team Nigeria’s sprinters also made a strong statement by securing multiple semifinal places in the men’s 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 Tuesday’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.

With five gold medals already secured and more medal events to come, Team Nigeria continues on its path to deliver on its promises at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games.