Joel Ajayi 

With just seven days until the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, Team Nigeria’s preparations have entered the final stretch, with Commonwealth weightlifting champion and African record holder Onome Omolola Didih expressing confidence in the team’s readiness to deliver medals for the country.

One of Nigeria’s leading medal hopefuls in weightlifting, Didih said the athletes have received exceptional support from the National Sports Commission (NSC), crediting the conducive camping environments in Nigeria and Aberdeen, Scotland, for putting the team in the best possible condition ahead of the Games.

“I am living my dreams representing Nigeria, and I am grateful for the opportunity. The National Sports Commission has helped us prepare adequately, while the Weightlifting Federation has continued to encourage and support us throughout this journey,” Didih said.

“Our camping, both in Nigeria and here in Aberdeen, has been top-notch. The environment has been serene and has allowed us to remain focused on our training. The training facilities have everything we need, and we are grateful to the Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Mallam Shehu Dikko, and the Director General, Hon. Bukola Olopade, for their support.”

Didih heads to Glasgow in outstanding form. She finished fourth at the 2024 World Weightlifting Championships before dominating the 53kg event at the 2025 African Weightlifting Championships in Mauritius, where she lifted 92kg in the snatch and 111kg in the clean and jerk for a total of 203kg to win all three gold medals and emerge as Africa’s No. 1-ranked lifter in her weight class.

She successfully defended her continental dominance at the 2026 African Senior Weightlifting Championships in Egypt, winning another three gold medals in the 53kg category.

Didih lifted 87kg in the snatch and 105kg in the clean and jerk for a combined total of 192kg, comfortably finishing ahead of Egypt and South Africa to complete another clean sweep of the gold medals.

Last summer, she also claimed gold in the women’s 53kg event at the Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships in Ahmedabad, India, further cementing her status as one of Africa’s finest weightlifters and Nigeria’s brightest medal prospects heading into Glasgow 2026.
Didih beseeched Nigeria to rally behind the team as they fly the nation’s flag at the Games.

“We urge Nigerians to keep praying for us and cheering us on as we compete for the country. We will do all we can to make them proud and with their support, nothing is impossible.”

Team Nigeria continues its final phase of preparations in Aberdeen ahead of the Opening Ceremony on July 23, with the nation’s athletes determined to uphold Nigeria’s proud tradition of excellence at the Commonwealth Games.

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