African Games 2023: Nigeria Weightlifters Begin Medal Quest

Team Nigeria in Weightlifting will begin their quest to win medals at the ongoing 2023 Africa Games in Ghana on Saturday, March 9, 2024.

Made up of 12 lifters including six female and six male, the team will begin their competition on Saturday with two women and a man featuring in different categories.

In the opening competition which starts with 45kg women category, Morufat Folarin will compete by 11am while 2022 Commonwealth Games gold medalist, Adijat Adenike Olarinoye will compete in the 55kg category by 5pm.

Same time, King Kalu, featuring in 55kg men category will be in action on Saturday

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Team Nigeria in Weightlifting came second in the 2019 edition of the Africa Games behind Egypt with 50 medals made up of 16 gold, 16 silver and 18 bronze.

The lifters expressed optimism going into this year’s game with a view to better their outing four years ago.

Nigeria has remaind a dominant force in Weightlifting in Africa with 2019 African Games gold medallist in -59kg category, Rafiatu Lawal, 2022 Commonwealth Games gold medalist, Adijat Adenike Olarinoye as well as Edidiong Umoafia who is making his debut all exoected to push for Nigeria’s medals in Accra.

The Weightlifting event which is holding at the University of Ghana, Legon, will last for seven days, between Friday March 8 and 15, 2024

Full list of Team Nigeria Weightlifting:

MALE
1. King Kalu. – 55K2. Favour Agboro – 61KG
3. Edidiong Umoafia -67KG
4. Desmond Akano – 96KG
5. Abayomi Adeyemi – 102KG 6. Lucky Joseph – +109KG

FEMALE

1. Morufat Folarin – 45KG
2. Adijat Olarinoye -55KG3. Rafiatu Lawal – 59KG
4. Ruth Ayodele – 64KG5. Joy Eze – 71KG
7. Mary Osijo – 87KG

Amaechi Agbo
Media Officer
Nigeria Weightlifting Federation
March 8, 2024.