Nigerian Women Punch Their Way to Three Gold Medals at African Boxing Championships

Nigeria's female boxers stole the spotlight at the African Elite Men’s and Women’s Boxing Championships in Nairobi, Kenya, winning all three of the country’s gold medals and leading a five-medal finish when the competition ended on Thursday.

Ajishola Khadijat, Precious Anine and team captain Blessing Orakwe emerged as champions, while Patricia Mbata and Ridwan Raheem claimed silver. Their performances gave Nigeria five medals from its 10-member contingent, capping a campaign that gathered momentum after a difficult start.

Khadijat opened the gold medal account with a commanding 5-0 unanimous decision victory over Algeria’s Malak Noir in the women’s 51-54kg final. Anine followed by defeating Algeria’s Benane Djouher in the women’s 60-65kg category.

Orakwe delivered the most emphatic result of the three, stopping Kenya’s Akinyi Elizabeth in the first round of the women’s 75-80kg final after the referee intervened. Before the contest, the Nigerian captain had declared that she was not in Nairobi to joke and would overcome anyone standing between her and the title. Her performance made that determination count.

The road to the podium had not been smooth. Nigeria suffered a series of early defeats, with Aishat Gbadamosi, Abdulramon Abdulwahab, Emmanuel Chuwuka and Kenneth Anigboro losing to opponents from Algeria, Egypt, Kenya and Uganda respectively on Sunday. 

Raheem helped restore momentum on Monday by defeating Algeria’s Ismail Bekhsis. The semi-finals brought further success as Khadijat and Anine each recorded 5-0 victories, while Orakwe stopped Uganda’s Aiwine Diana in the first round. On Wednesday, Raheem booked his place in the men’s 65kg final by beating Rwanda’s Niyonzima Pacifique on points. Mbata had also qualified for her final.

Both silver medal contests were decided by narrow margins. Mbata lost 3-2 to Egypt’s Aboelfead Nabila in the women’s 70-75kg final, while Raheem fell by the same scoreline to Angola’s Bernardo Massimino Sander in the men’s 65kg final, with the result settled by split decision.

Nigeria’s finish in Nairobi demonstrates the value of resilience in competition. Despite the early setbacks, the team produced three champions, two silver medallists and a result that places the achievements of its female boxers firmly at the centre of the country’s continental boxing campaign.