Imadu backs Mbata and Oraekwe for medals after early losses

Nigeria Boxing Federation vice president, Omonlei Imadu, believes that Patricia Mbata and Blessing Oraekwe can still win medals for Team Nigeria at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games. This comes after four Nigerian boxers have already been knocked out of the competition, according to PUNCH Sports Extra.

“We still got Blessing Oraekwe and Patricia Mbata to make us proud. We look forward to getting some medals through their performance and level of preparedness so far. It is not over yet,” Imadu said.

Team Nigeria’s boxing effort hit another setback on Sunday when Ajishola Kadijat was eliminated. She lost narrowly with a 3-2 split decision to Wales’ Helen Jones in the women’s 54kg Round of 16. This result added to the country’s woes in boxing after three other boxers had already exited in the opening days of the competition.

Kadijat’s exit came after Ayomide Foly Hassan and Abdulramon Abdulwahab were eliminated on Friday, and David Akintola lost on Saturday. Hassan lost four-nil on points to Lesotho’s Refiloe Thai. Akintola was beaten four-one by Tanzania’s Yusef Lucasi Changalewa, both in the Round of 32.

Imadu spoke about the eliminated fighters. He praised their efforts and said the experience gained in Glasgow would help them in their future careers. “They worked gallantly as great boxers. The exposure gotten is a great ingredient in furtherance to their career. They continue to train and focus on their preparation for the upcoming Olympic Games qualification series. Nigerians are proud of them,” he said.

With four out of the six boxers already out, the pressure is now on Mbata and Oraekwe to turn things around in what is becoming a tough campaign. Mbata is set to face England’s Mary Smith in the women’s 75kg quarter-final on Tuesday, while Oraekwe meets Australia’s Lekeisha Pergoliti in the women’s 70kg quarter-final on Wednesday, July 29.

Team Nigeria has seen success in other events at the Games, winning several medals in para powerlifting. But in boxing, which has historically been one of Nigeria’s strongest sports at the Commonwealth Games, there has been no breakthrough in Glasgow yet.