13th African Games: Who are Nigeria’s weightlifters for the competition
Nigeria’s weightlifting team for the 13th African Games in Accra, Ghana, is poised for success with a total of 13 athletes – six men and seven women – along with four coaches accompanying them.
The competition will be held from March 8th to 23rd, 2024, across three cities: Accra, Kumasi, and Cape Coast.
The men’s weightlifting team includes King Kalu (-55kg), Favour Agboro (-61kg), Edidiong Umoafia (-67kg), Desmond Akano (-96kg), Abayomi Adeyemi (-102kg), and Lucky Joseph (+109kg). On the women’s side, the athletes are Morufat Folarin (-45kg), Adijat Olarinoye (-55kg), Rafiatu Lawal (-59kg), Ruth Ayodele (-64kg), Joy Ogbonne (-71kg), Taiwo Liadi (-76kg), and Mary Osijo (-87kg).
Accompanying the team are coaches Chris Nwadei, Emekna Ajai, Evelyn Okuofor, and Patience Lawal.
According to ACL SPORTS, Rafiatu Lawal, the 2019 African Games champion, expressed confidence in Nigeria’s dominance in the women’s weightlifting category, dismissing the North African teams as threats. She emphasized Nigeria’s status as the powerhouse of women’s weightlifting in Africa.
Regarding her personal goals, Lawal remained modest, stating her focus on an upcoming championship serving as Olympic qualifiers. However, she acknowledged that her performance at the African Games would be influenced by the overall atmosphere of the competition.
She said, “The team does not see the North Africans as a threat at the Games. Nigeria is the giant of Africa in the women’s weightlifting event and we will continue to dominate for a long time.
“I have a Championship which serves as an Olympic Qualifiers coming up in Thailand. I am not going to stress myself at the African Games but the tone of the Games will determine my output”.
Edidiong Umoafia, a Commonwealth bronze medallist making his debut at the African Games, expressed readiness among the men’s team to face tough competition from other African countries.
He affirmed their preparation and determination to give their best, aiming to secure gold medals for Nigeria amidst the expected competitiveness of the weightlifting event.
With a blend of experience and emerging talent, Nigeria’s weightlifting team appears primed to make a strong impression at the 13th African Games, aiming to uphold the nation’s tradition of excellence in the sport.
