The Nigeria Boxing Federation (NBF) will on Friday (Today) determine the boxers who will represent the country in the boxing event of the 2026 Commonwealth Games, as the championship bouts of the ongoing open trials take place at the Brai Ayonote Boxing Complex, located inside the National Stadium Surulere in Lagos.
A total of 128 fighters, made up of 101 men and 27 women, began the competition earlier in the week, with finalists across the 10 weight categories now set to battle for places on Team Nigeria ahead of the Games scheduled to hold in Glasgow, Scotland.
Speaking on the trials, NBF Secretary-General Vivian Azimene expressed satisfaction with the turnout, noting that the selected athletes will proceed to a national training camp while other standout performers will serve as sparring partners as preparations intensify 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,” Azimene said.
Action during the trials has already produced several notable results. In the men’s 75kg category, Wahab Abdulrahman defeated Qudus Adeniji to reach the semi-finals, while Quadri Ilori secured victory over Israel Ogbodo via split decision to advance.
More than 80 bouts have been contested across the four-day tournament, with several diaspora-based fighters also making strong impressions against their home-based counterparts.
Nigeria is expected to compete in 10 weight divisions at the Games — five for men (55kg, 65kg, 70kg, 80kg and 90kg) and five for women (51kg, 57kg, 65kg, 70kg and +70kg).
The West African boxing powerhouse heads into the Glasgow Games with a strong pedigree in the competition. At the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, nine Nigerian fighters led by captain Abdul-Afeez Osoba returned with four medals, a silver won by Elizabeth Oshoba, while Cynthia Ogunsemilore, Jacinta Umunnakwe, and Ifeanyi Onyekwere each secured bronze medals.
