Esther Oyema wins silver medal on day 1 of the commonwealth games…Photo Credit: X/ Making of Champs
Team Nigeria has strengthened its position among the leading nations at the ongoing 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow after winning three additional gold medals in weightlifting, bringing its total medal haul to 10.
The latest victories saw Nigeria increase its tally to six gold and four silver medals, placing the country among the top five on the overall medals table and making it the highest-ranked African nation at the Games.
In a statement posted on its X handle on Tuesday, the National Sports Commission (NSC) praised the outstanding performances of the country’s athletes, particularly weightlifters Edidiong Umoafia, Onome Didih and Rafiatu Lawal, who all claimed gold medals.
“Team Nigeria enjoyed another outstanding day at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, adding three more gold medals through a dominant display in weightlifting to take the nation’s medal tally to 10 medals, six gold and four silver, moving Nigeria to fourth place on the overall medal table,” the commission stated.
According to the NSC, Umoafia won the men’s 71kg weightlifting event with a combined lift of 319kg, while Didih secured the women’s 53kg title after setting a new Commonwealth Games record with a total lift of 203kg. Lawal also retained her Commonwealth title by winning gold in the women’s 58kg category.
The commission congratulated the athletes, coaches and officials for their impressive performances.
However, the official Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games medals table later showed Nigeria slipping to fifth place after hosts Scotland moved ahead with six gold, four silver and three bronze medals.
Nigeria’s Medal Winners So Far
Gold Medals
- Esther Nworgu – Para Powerlifting
- Folashade Oluwafemiayo – Para Powerlifting
- Riluwan Idris – Para Powerlifting
- Edidiong Joseph Umoafia – Men’s 71kg Weightlifting
- Onome Omolola Didih – Women’s 53kg Weightlifting
- Rafiatu Folashade Lawal – Women’s 58kg Weightlifting
Silver Medals
- Roland Ezuruike – Para Powerlifting
- Esther Oyema – Para Powerlifting
- Rita Ferdinand – Para Powerlifting
- Ruth Asuquo Nyong – Women’s 48kg Weightlifting
With six gold and four silver medals, Team Nigeria remains one of the standout performers at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games as competition continues in athletics, boxing, wrestling and additional weightlifting events.
