The Nigeria Boxing Federation will on Friday (today) determine the 10 boxers who will represent the country in the boxing event of the 2026 Commonwealth Games, as the championship bouts of the open trials hold at the Brai Ayonote Boxing Complex, National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.
Of the 128 boxers — comprising 101 men and 27 women — who began the competition on Tuesday, March 3, the finalists across all 10 weight categories will slug it out on Friday to earn a place on Team Nigeria for the Glasgow Games.
The Secretary-General of the NBF, Vivian Azimene, said selected boxers who made the final cut would be invited to camp, while outstanding athletes from the trials would also serve as sparring partners in preparation for the Games.
“We are excited about the turnout of the event, and we hope we can continue our exploits at the Games this year because Nigeria has always been among the outstanding teams whenever boxing is featured at the Games,” she said.
In the men’s 75kg category on Thursday, Wahab Abdulrahman defeated Qudus Adeniji to advance to the semi-finals, while Quadri Ilori beat Israel Ogbodo via split decision to also progress.
More than 80 bouts have been decided across the four-day tournament, with diaspora athletes making their presence felt with impressive performances against their home-based counterparts.
Nigeria will field boxers in 10 weight categories — five for men (55kg, 65kg, 70kg, 80kg and 90kg) and five for women (51kg, 57kg, 65kg, 70kg and +70kg).
The West African boxing powerhouse arrives at the Glasgow Games with a strong Commonwealth pedigree. At the 2022 edition in Birmingham, nine fighters led by captain Abdul-Afeez Osoba returned home with four medals — one silver through Elizabeth Oshoba and three bronzes courtesy of Cynthia Ogunsemilore, Jacinta Umunnakwe and Ifeanyi Onyekwere.