AAG: Nigerian boxers shine

Boxing Gloves

Nigeria finished second in the boxing medals table behind Algeria on Saturdayafter winning four gold and two silver medals at the All Africa Games in Brazzaville, Congo. Algeria won five gold and five silver medals to top in the sport.

Olufemi Oyeleye won gold after defeatingCameroon’sNsango Njikam in the men’s welterweight category, while Efe Ajagba took the gold in the men’s super-heavyweightclass for overcoming Seychelles’ Keddy Agnes via unanimous decision.

Edith Ogu-Ogoke defeated Egypt’s Rana Abdelhamid in the women’s middleweight final, just as Kehinde Obareh overcame Tunisia’s Hilimi Khouloud in the women’s lightweight.

Caroline Linus and Efe Apochi added the silver medals. Linus lost the final 3-0 toAlgeria’s Souhila Bouchene in the women’s -51kg class, while Apochi lost to Mauritius’ Kennedy St Pierre in the men’s 91kg welterweight division.

Obareh was full of joy after winning her first All Africa Games medal. She wrote on Facebook, “This is my first African Games (outing) and God has done this much for me. I’m now two times African championship.”

President of the Nigeria Boxing Federation,Lt.-GenKenneth Minima (retd.), said the results had indicated a rejuvenation in Nigerian boxing.

Meanwhile, Nigeria added another gold medal to their haul after beating South Africa in beach volleyball on Sunday.

Two silver medals were also added later on Sunday as Nigeria lost 3-2 to Egypt in the women’s table tennis team event, while Ibukun Ibrahim finished second in the women’s triple jump with her 13.50m effort.