African champion Patricia Mbata secured her place at the 2026 Commonwealth Games after defeating national champion Blessing Orakwe during the Nigeria Boxing Federation national trials held over the weekend in Lagos.
Mbata emerged victorious in her bout against Orakwe at the Brai Ayonote Boxing Sports Complex inside the National Stadium Lagos, confirming her qualification for the boxing event of the Games.
The trials, Organised by the Nigeria Boxing Federation, featured four days of intense competition with a total of 128 boxers taking part. The athletes competed across ten weight categories, with the winners in each division earning the opportunity to represent Nigeria at the Games.
At the end of the competition, ten fighters, five men and five women, secured their spots in the national team. Additional boxers were also invited to the training camp to serve as sparring partners as preparations intensify for the global event.
Nigeria will be aiming to improve on its outing at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, where the country’s boxing team returned with four medals. The team was led by captain Abdul-Afeez Osoba, while Elizabeth Oshoba won a silver medal and Cynthia Ogunsemilore, Jacinta Umunnakwe, and Ifeanyi Onyekwere claimed bronze medals.
The 2026 Commonwealth Games will take place from July 24 to August 1 at the SEC Centre in Glasgow, with boxing set to feature 14 events split evenly between men and women. The multi-sport event will also include athletics, swimming, gymnastics, cycling, netball, bowls, and basketball.
