Nigeria closed out a sensational run at the African Senior Weightlifting Championship in Moka, Mauritius, with a massive statement—18 medals, including a jaw-dropping 13 gold.
Read Also: Golden Girl of Mauritius: Sarah Ovayioza’s Triple Gold Seals Nigeria’s Weightlifting Supremacy
It all came to a triumphant end with Sarah Ovayioza Matthew’s powerhouse performance in the Women’s 76kg, where she hauled 107kg in Snatch, 130kg in Clean & Jerk, and a combined 237kg to sweep three final golds for Team Nigeria.
Matthew’s success was the exclamation mark on a week-long medal spree that saw every single Nigerian lifter return home with hardware.
The golden momentum started with Onome Omolola Didih in the Women’s 55kg, who kicked off the championship with a clean sweep, lifting a total of 203kg. Commonwealth Games champion Rafiatu Folashade Lawal followed up with her own triple-gold outing in the 59kg category, lifting 213kg total.
Not to be outdone, Ruth Imoleayo Ayodele mirrored Lawal’s performance in the 64kg, also grabbing three golds with a matching total of 213kg.
On the men’s side, Umoafia Joseph Edidiong—already a Commonwealth Games bronze medallist—delivered a gold and two silvers in the 73kg with a combined lift of 319kg. Rising star Tuesday Emmanuel added two silvers and a bronze in the 67kg category, lifting 276kg in his debut appearance.
Six lifters. Eighteen medals. One unforgettable run.
Nigeria didn’t just show up—they lifted up, stood tall, and left Mauritius with a statement only gold could make.
