Nigeria’s weightlifting team will launch its campaign for medals on Thursday, April 24, at the 2025 Africa Senior Weightlifting Championship (ASWC) in Moka, Mauritius.
The country will be represented by six lifters competing across six categories. On Thursday, four of these athletes will step onto the platform in pursuit of early success for Nigeria.
Didih Onome Omolola will compete in the women’s 55kg category, while Lawal Rafiatu Folashade, a 2024 Olympian and reigning African champion, will vie for honors in the 59kg division. Both events are scheduled to begin at 11:00 a.m. Nigerian time. Omolola previously featured at the 2024 World Weightlifting Championships in Bahrain and is expected to make a strong start for the team.
Later in the day, Tuesday Emmanuel (67kg) and Umoafia Edidiong Joseph (73kg) will compete from 1:00 p.m. Nigerian time. Umoafia, a dominant figure in both African and Commonwealth competitions, is heavily favored to retain his gold medal.
“We Are Here to Make Nigeria Proud” – Christopher Nwadieh
Christopher Nwadieh, Technical Director of the Nigeria Weightlifting Federation (NWF) and one of the coaches accompanying the team in Mauritius, emphasized the athletes’ determination to bring glory to Nigeria.
Speaking ahead of the competition, Nwadieh highlighted that the championship serves a dual purpose: winning medals and preparing for the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, scheduled from July 23 to August 2.
“Our athletes are fully prepared and highly motivated,” Nwadieh said. “The Director General of the National Sports Commission and our Weightlifting Federation President, Dr. Ibrahim Abdul, are both here with us. Their presence has boosted the team’s morale. Beyond winning medals, we are using this event as a stepping stone for the Commonwealth Games next year.”
The 2025 ASWC, which began on Sunday, April 20, and will conclude on Sunday, April 28, features 50 athletes from 17 African nations, including the host country.
Nigeria and Madagascar each have six athletes competing, while Ghana has four, and Cameroon fields eight. Host nation Mauritius leads with 14 athletes.
Here’s a breakdown of participating countries and their athlete numbers:
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Burundi (1)
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Cape Verde (1)
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Equatorial Guinea (1)
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Ethiopia (1)
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Guinea (1)
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Liberia (1)
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Mauritania (1)
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Senegal (1)
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Tanzania (1)
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Zanzibar (1)
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Gambia (1)
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Uganda (1)
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Lesotho (1)
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Ghana (4)
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Nigeria (6)
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Madagascar (6)
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Cameroon (8)
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Mauritius (14)
