By Amaechi Agbo

A total of six lifters and two officials will this night depart the Murtala Muhammed International Airport Lagos en-route Moka in Mauritius for the 2025 Africa Weightlifting Championship

The contingent comprises four female and two male lifters who are poised to compete in six categories at the Africa’s Weightlifting flagship event.

The female athletes include Didih Onome Omolola in 55kg, Lawal Rafiatu Folashade 59kg, Ayodele Ruth Imoleayo 64kg and Matthew Sarah Ovayioza 76kg
The two male are; Tuesday Emmanuel 67kg and Umoafia Edidiong Joseph 73kg

The 2025 Africa Weightlifting Championship will hold in Moka, Mauritius starting from April 20th through 28th. Sunday 20 April was the arrival date while opening ceremony will hold on Wednesday, April 23rd.

Hostilities will commence on Thursday with two Nigeria lifters, Didih Onome Omolola in 55kg and Lawal Rafiatu Folashade 59kg in action in the morning while Tuesday Emmanuel, featuring in 67kg and Umoafia Edidiong Joseph in 73kg will compete from 2pm Nigeria time.

Nigeria’s participation in the championship will be rounded off on Friday with Ayodele Ruth Imoleayo featuring in 64kg and Matthew Sarah Ovayioza competing in the 76kg women categories.

Nigeria enters the competition on the back of an impressive outing at the 2024 edition in Egypt where the contingent won eleven medals comprising six gold and five silver medals.

The Nigeria delegate will depart the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos by 10pm tonight via Kenya Airline. The team will have a stopover in Kenya before taking a connecting flight to Mauritius