Imadu backs Mbata, Oraekwe to deliver medals after early blows

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Nigeria Boxing Federation vice president, Omonlei Imadu, has expressed confidence that Patricia Mbata and Blessing Oraekwe can still deliver medals for Team Nigeria at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, despite four Nigerian boxers already crashing out of the competition, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.

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“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.

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Team Nigeria’s boxing campaign suffered its fourth blow on Sunday when Ajishola Kadijat was eliminated following a narrow 3-2 split decision defeat to Wales’ Helen Jones in the women’s 54kg Round of 16 at the SEC Centre, a result that extended the country’s struggles in the discipline after three other boxers had already bowed out in the opening days of competition.

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Kadijat’s exit followed the earlier departures of Ayomide Foly Hassan and Abdulramon Abdulwahab on Friday, and David Akintola on Saturday, with Hassan losing four-nil on points to Lesotho’s Refiloe Thai and Akintola beaten four-one by Tanzania’s Yusef Lucasi Changalewa, both in the Round of 32.

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Speaking on the exits, Imadu praised the eliminated fighters for their efforts and said the experience gained in Glasgow would prove valuable for their careers going forward.

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“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.

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With four of the country’s six-man and women’s boxing contingent already eliminated, the pressure has shifted onto Mbata and Oraekwe to salvage what is fast becoming a difficult campaign in the discipline.

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Mbata is due to face England’s Mary Smith in the women’s 75kg quarter-final on Tuesday (today), while Oraekwe takes on Australia’s Lekeisha Pergoliti in the women’s 70kg quarter-final on Wednesday, July 29.

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Team Nigeria has already enjoyed considerable success elsewhere at the Games, claiming multiple medals in para powerlifting, but boxing, historically one of the country’s strongest medal-producing sports at the Commonwealth Games, is yet to register a breakthrough in Glasgow.

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