Team Nigeria experienced another eventful outing on Day Three of the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, with weightlifter Ruth Asuquo Nyong emerging as the standout performer after securing a silver medal, while several other Nigerian athletes came agonisingly close to reaching the podium across different events.
Nyong delivered Nigeria’s only medal of the day in the women’s 49kg weightlifting event, lifting a combined total of 168kg (75kg in the snatch and 93kg in the clean and jerk) to finish second.
India’s Mirabai Saikhom claimed the gold medal with a Commonwealth Games record total of 190kg.
Nigeria narrowly missed adding another medal in the men’s 65kg weightlifting competition, where Favour Agboro finished fourth with a total lift of 279kg (122kg snatch and 157kg clean and jerk).
Agboro appeared set for bronze after successfully lifting 160kg in his final clean and jerk attempt, but the effort was ruled a no-lift for failing to maintain control, leaving him just three kilograms short of the podium.
In boxing, Nigeria’s difficult campaign continued as Khadijat Ajishola bowed out of the women’s 54kg competition after a closely contested 3-2 split decision defeat to Wales’ Helen Jones.
Two of the five judges scored the bout in favour of the Nigerian, but it was not enough to keep her medal hopes alive.
The country’s women’s 3×3 wheelchair basketball team also endured a disappointing outing, suffering a heavy 17-1 defeat to Wales.
Meanwhile, Nigeria’s men’s 3×3 basketball team recorded mixed results on the day.
They first lost 21-16 to hosts Scotland, a defeat that left their qualification hopes hanging in the balance.
However, the team bounced back in dramatic fashion with a thrilling 20-19 victory over Guyana.
After surrendering a four-point lead late in the contest, Nigeria held their nerve to score the decisive basket.
Esosa Okundaye starred with a game-high nine points as the victory improved Nigeria’s record to 2-3, keeping their slim hopes of advancing alive.
With athletics set to begin on Monday, Team Nigeria will be hoping for stronger performances as they continue their quest for more medals at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games.
