As Nigerian Weightlifters begin their search for 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
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.
A press statement from the Nigeria Weightlifting Federation, media officer, Amaechi Agbo which was made available to Core Reporters’on Friday said, the lifters expressed optimism going into this year’s game with a view to better their outing four years ago.
Nigeria has remain 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. – 55K
2. 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 -55KG
3. Rafiatu Lawal – 59KG
4. Ruth Ayodele – 64KG
5. Joy Eze – 71KG
7. Mary Osijo – 87KG
