African Weightlifting Standings: Nigeria Dominates Continental Championships in Egypt

The 2026 African Senior Weightlifting Championships in Ismailia, Egypt, have concluded with a definitive statement from Team Nigeria, which surged to the top of the continental standings. The event, which also served as the 16th Mediterranean Cup, brought together the best lifters from across Africa to compete for regional supremacy and crucial qualification positioning.[3]

The Nigerian contingent, comprising just ten athletes, captured an astonishing 29 medals—14 gold, 13 silver, and two bronze—to cement their status as the undisputed powerhouse of African weightlifting. This performance eclipsed their already dominant showing at the 2025 championships in Mauritius, where they secured 18 total medals.[1]

The women's team was the engine of Nigeria's success, delivering a masterclass in the lighter and middleweight divisions. Competing in the 48kg category, Ruth Nyong Asuquo swept all three available gold medals. She lifted 74kg in the snatch and 93kg in the clean and jerk, posting a combined total of 167kg to easily outpace Madagascar's Tendry Tsiky Mahavy Rakotonoely (136kg) and Tunisia's Maissa Khadhraoui (137kg).[2]

That momentum continued in the 53kg division, where Onome Omolola Didih mirrored Asuquo's perfect run. Didih controlled the event from her opening attempts, securing gold with an 87kg snatch and a 105kg clean and jerk. Her 192kg total left her comfortably ahead of challengers from Egypt and South Africa, further padding Nigeria's lead in the standings.[2]

Rafiatu Folashade Lawal added to the gold rush in the 58kg class, posting a combined total of 215kg after lifting 95kg in the snatch and 120kg in the clean and jerk. Liadi Taiwo also swept the 77kg category, leaving competitors from Egypt and Tunisia to battle for the remaining podium spots.[1]

While the women spearheaded the campaign, the Nigerian men's squad made vital contributions to the final medal tally. Edidiong Joseph Umoafia (71kg) and Favour Omovigho Agboro (65kg) each secured a gold and two silver medals in their respective weight classes. Adedapo Adeleke Opadeji added three silvers in the 79kg division, and heavyweight Lucky Joseph picked up two bronze medals in the +110kg category with a 315kg total.[1]

Beyond Nigeria's dominance, other North African nations made their mark on the final standings. The Algerian national team concluded its campaign with six medals, driven by standout performances from Aymen Touiri and Fares Touiri.

Competing in the 110kg category, Aymen Touiri was crowned Vice-African Champion, securing a silver medal in the clean and jerk with a 210kg lift and a bronze in the snatch (165kg) for a 375kg total. Fares Touiri added three bronze medals in the 94kg class, ensuring Algeria maintained a strong presence on the continental leaderboard.

The championships in Ismailia carried immense strategic importance, serving as a critical proving ground and qualification event for the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. The final continental rankings from this event will heavily influence the allocation of remaining qualification slots, making every successful lift a step toward the global stage.[2]

As the international weightlifting calendar pivots toward the fall majors—most notably the World Championships in Ningbo, China—the African standings reflect a clear hierarchy. Nigeria has firmly established itself as the continent's premier force, setting a high bar for its athletes as they prepare to face the world's best.[1][3]