128 Boxers Fight For 10 Team Nigeria Places At 2026 Commonwealth Trials

A fierce contest is underway in Lagos as 128 boxers compete for 10 available places on Team Nigeria’s boxing squad for the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

The national trials, taking place at the Brai Ayonote Boxing Complex, drew 101 male boxers and 27 female boxers, with four athletes from the diaspora also in contention. Officials say the turnout has raised the standard of competition and increased pressure on athletes to earn selection on merit.

Secretary-General of the Nigeria Boxing Federation, Vivian Azimene, said the federation originally planned to take only six athletes to the Games, made up of three men and three women. She said that position changed after a visit by National Sports Commission Director-General Bukonla Olopade, who gave assurance that the boxing team could now include five men and five women.

Azimene said the adjustment gave more athletes a realistic path to the squad and made the trials more meaningful. She said the federation’s objective is to provide a fair process in which every eligible boxer can fight for a place, adding that those eventually selected are expected to represent the country strongly in Glasgow.

Competition began on Tuesday with preliminary bouts that ran late. Quarter-finals were staged on Wednesday, while semi-final fights are scheduled for Thursday. Organisers said the trials will end on Friday with the finals and related activities expected between 4 p.m. and 10 p.m.

The boxers are competing across 10 weight classes. The men’s divisions are 55kg, 65kg, 70kg, 80kg and 90kg, while the women’s divisions are 51kg, 57kg, 65kg, 70kg and above 70kg.

Nigeria heads into the qualification phase with a strong Commonwealth boxing record. At the 2022 edition in Birmingham, Team Nigeria presented nine boxers led by captain Abdul-Afeez Osoba and returned with four medals, made up of one silver and three bronze.

Boxing is among the sports listed for the 2026 Commonwealth Games, fixed for July 24 to August 1 at the SEC Centre in Glasgow. The programme includes 14 boxing medal events, split into seven for men and seven for women, alongside athletics, swimming, gymnastics, cycling, netball and basketball.