African Games: Egypt extend lead, Nigeria in distant second News

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African Games: Egypt extend lead, Nigeria in distant second

By Daily Sports Nigeria on March 14, 2024

After Day 6 of the ongoing African Games in Ghana, Team Nigeria occupy the second position on the medal table, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.

Nigeria has 54 medals (22 gold, 13 silver and 19 bronze) to occupy the second position on the medals table behind Egypt, who lead with 103 medals, which comprises 61 gold, 22 silver and 20 bronze medals.

After missing out on the podium in the table tennis event, Team Nigeria had to wait till Day 3 of the event on Sunday to claim seven gold medals.

A gold medal from badminton and six from wrestling ensured the country moved up in the medals table.

African Games champion Anuoluwapo Opeyori opened the floodgates for Team Nigeria after beating compatriot Godwin Olofua 2-1 in the final to defend his men’s singles title in the badminton event and won Nigeria’s first gold at the ongoing edition of the games in Ghana.

A few hours later, it was a clean sweep as Nigeria claimed all the available gold medals in the women’s wrestling event.

Firstly, Mercy Genesis defeated Egyptian wrestler Nada Mohammed to clinch gold in the women’s 50kg freestyle.

In the 53kg division, Christiana Ogunsanya defeated her Ivorian opponent, Bakayoko, to win the country’s second gold in wrestling, before three-time Commonwealth champion, Adekuoroye Odunayo, defeated her opponent Zineb Hassoune in just 24 seconds to clinch the third gold for Nigeria in the 57kg finals.

Esther Kolawole, Blessing Oborududu and Hannah Reuben all overpowered their opponents to clinch gold medals in the 62kg, 68kg and 76kg respectively.

On Day 4, Team Nigeria won three more gold in the weightlifting event through Edidiong Umoafia.

Competing in the 67kg, Umoafia emerged as the overall best, lifting 135kg snatch and 165kg clean and jerk for a total of 300kg.

Team Nigeria consolidated their stronghold on the second spot on the table with 12 gold medals on Tuesday.

Earlier at the GCB Hall of the University Ghana Ruth Ayodele and Joy Eze won three gold medals each in the 64kg and 71kg respectively before Adijat Olarinoye, Rofiatu Lawal and Joy Ogbonne all claimed hat-tricks of gold medals in the weightlifting event.

With 15 gold medals from weightlifting, six from wrestling and one from badminton, Team Nigeria took their tally to 22 gold medals.

It was a slow day for Nigeria as they claimed only three silver and five bronze medals on Day 6 of the event.

Altogether, the country has won 54 medals, with 13 silver and 19 bronze medals.

They are still some distance behind leaders, Egypt, who boast 103 medals (61 gold, 22 silver and 20 bronze medals).

Algeria occupy the third spot with 71 medals (19 gold, 24 silver and 28 bronze) while South Africa sit in fourth position with 19 gold, 20 silver and 32 bronze medals.

Tunisia are fifth with just six gold, 18 silver and 19 bronze medals.

Source Punch Ng

Posted March 14, 2024