Edidiong Umoafia Wins One Gold and Two Silver Medals for Nigeria at African Championship
Edidiong Umoafia has continued his impressive rise in weightlifting after winning one gold and two silver medals for Nigeria at the ongoing 2026 Senior African Weightlifting Championship in Ismailia, Egypt.
The Akwa Ibom-born star, who hails from Ibiono Ibom Local Government Area, competed in the men’s 71kg category and added three more medals to Nigeria’s growing tally at the continental championship.
Umoafia is one of Nigeria’s leading weightlifters and has won several medals for the country at international competitions. He has also represented Team Akwa Ibom at major national events and swept all the medals in his weight category at the last National Sports Festival.
Another Akwa Ibom athlete, Ruth Nyong, also impressed at the championship by dominating her category, further highlighting the state’s growing strength in weightlifting.
Nigeria’s team produced another strong performance on Thursday as the country won nine additional medals to remain top of the medals table at the competition, which also serves as qualification for the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
In the women’s 77kg category, Liadi Taiwowon all three gold medals available, while Adedapo Adeleke secured three silver medals in the men’s 79kg category.
Nigeria now leads the medals table with 14 gold and 12 silver medals, surpassing the country’s performance at the 2025 edition in Mauritius where Team Nigeria finished overall champions with 18 medals.
The medal haul is expected to increase as more Nigerian athletes are still scheduled to compete in Egypt.
