After 11 days of gruelling competition, the 2022 Commonwealth Games is over, and Team Nigeria enjoyed a fine outing in Birmingham.
The lack of kits for the team initially marred the start of the 2022 Commonwealth Games for Nigeria’s athletes after their original kit-makers failed to deliver their kits for the competition. They were forced to find a new manufacturer within the UK who could deliver the kits within a very short time. Eventually, the issue of the kits was solved, and Team Nigeria was ready to compete at a global level.
At the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, Team Nigeria made its mark in the competition. The country’s representatives in Birmingham ensured that they enjoyed a great deal of success in the Commonwealth Games.
Team Nigeria won 12 gold medals in the 2022 Commonwealth Games, the highest such medal tally of the country in the history of the competition. They also won nine silver medals and 14 bronze medals as they finished in seventh place on the overall medal standings. They competed in 75 events and won 35 medals. Here is a breakdown of the medals won by Nigeria’s athletes in Birmingham;
Team Nigeria enjoyed great success in Powerlifting, with Folashade Oluwafemiayo setting a new world record to win gold, while Bose Omolayo had to settle for silver. Obichukwu Ikechukwu and Nnamdi Innocent claimed silver and bronze in their respective categories.
In the para-athletics category, Chiemerie Nwachukwu set a new world record to win gold in the women’s discus event. Eucharia Iyiazi won gold in the women’s shotput and Ugochi Alam won bronze.
In the para-table tennis category, Nasiru Sule won a silver medal, Ogunkunle Isau won a bronze medal, Faith Obazuaye won a bronze medal, and Ifechukwude Christiana won a silver medal.
Team Nigeria also enjoyed great success in weightlifting at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, winning six medals in the events, including two gold medals, one silver medal, and three bronze medals. Olarinoye Adijat and Rafiatu Folashade Lawal won the gold medals, and Taiwo Laidi won the silver medal. The bronze medals were courtesy of Islamiyat Adebukola, Edidiong Joseph and Mary Taiwo Osijo.
Wrestling was another similar successful event, with the Nigerian contingent claiming three gold medals, two silver medals, and two bronze medals. The gold medals were courtesy of Miesinnei Mercy, Blessing Oborodudu and Odunayo Adekuruoye. The silver medals were won by Ebikewenimo Welson and Hannah Reuben, and the bronze medals were courtesy of Ogbonna John and Esther Kolawole.
In boxing, team Nigeria won one silver medal and three bronze medals. Elizabeth Oshoba won the silver medal and the trio of Ifeanyi Onyekwere, Jacinta Umunnakwe and Cynthia Ogunsemilore won the bronze medals.
Team Nigeria enjoyed success in the track and field events at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, as well. In the women’s discus, there was a gold medal and a bronze medal for the Nigerian contingent through Chioma Onyekwere and Obiageri Amaechi, respectively. Similarly, Favour Ofili won silver in the women’s 200m, Tobi Amusan won gold in the women’s 100mH and Ese Brume won gold in the women’s long jump. The women’s 4x100m team won gold and the men’s 4x100m team struck bronze.
Overall, Nigeria’s contingent to the Games enjoyed an unprecedented amount of success. The contingent had only 93 members unlike the neighbouring Ghanaian team that had 101 athletes and ended up with only two silver and three bronze medals. Team Nigeria was the most successful African country at the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
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