By Faith Anisiobi, The Sight News
Glasgow, Scotland — Team Nigeria delivered a sensational Day Four performance at the 2026 Commonwealth Games on Monday, winning three more gold medals in weightlifting and recording impressive performances on the athletics track to strengthen the country’s medal push.
Nigeria’s latest successes increased its gold medal tally to six, with weightlifters Edidiong Joseph Umoafia, Onome Didih and Rafiatu Folashade Lawal producing record-breaking performances.
Umoafia opened the day’s golden run by claiming the men’s 71kg title with a Commonwealth Games record total of 319kg. He lifted a Games record 147kg in the snatch before adding 172kg in the clean and jerk to finish ahead of Samoa’s Joseph Tafi, who recorded 314kg, and Nauru’s Elgin Moses with 310kg. The victory handed Nigeria its fourth gold medal of the Games.
Onome Didih extended Nigeria’s dominance in the women’s 53kg category, winning the country’s fifth gold medal after setting new Commonwealth Games records in the snatch (93kg), clean and jerk (113kg) and total lift (206kg). India’s Gyaneshwari Yadav settled for silver with 199kg, while Canada’s Rebeka Groulx claimed bronze with 178kg.
Later in the evening, Rafiatu Folashade Lawal completed Nigeria’s golden hat-trick by winning the women’s 58kg event in record-breaking fashion. Lawal established new Commonwealth Games and Commonwealth records in the snatch (103kg), clean and jerk (126kg) and total lift (229kg), finishing 14kg ahead of Canada’s Ann-Sophie Taschereau, who won silver with 215kg.
In line with an earlier pledge by the National Sports Commission (NSC), each gold medalist received an instant cash reward of $5,000 and an additional $5,000 performance bonus, credited directly to their accounts.
Nigeria also enjoyed a productive outing on the athletics track, with several sprinters qualifying for the men’s and women’s 100 metres semifinals.
Favour Ashe comfortably won the opening heat of the men’s 100m in 10.10 seconds to qualify for Tuesday’s semifinals. Nicholas Fakorede also progressed after finishing second in Heat 10 in 10.21 seconds behind Lesotho’s Mojela Koneshe, who set a new national record with 10.07 seconds. They will be joined in the semifinals by national record holder Kayinsola Ajayi, who received a bye.
In the women’s 100m, 17-year-old Commonwealth Games debutant Miracle Ezechukwu impressed by winning her heat in 11.32 seconds from lane eight to secure automatic qualification. Blessing Ogundiran and Rosemary Chukwuma also advanced, giving Nigeria three representatives in the women’s semifinals.
In the women’s hammer throw, Sade Olatoye finished 10th in Group A with a best throw of 62.75 metres, recorded on her second attempt after two fouls.
With six gold medals already secured and more medal events ahead, Team Nigeria remains firmly on course for a successful outing at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games.
