Nigeria suffer more boxing blows in Glasgow

Team Nigeria's boxing campaign at the 23rd Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, suffered its fourth blow on Sunday as Ajishola Kadijat was eliminated in the women's 54kg round of 16.

The 19-year-old lost a narrow split decision, 3-2, to Wales' Helen Jones at the SEC Centre. Both fighters exchanged impressive combinations, but the judges ultimately favored the Welsh boxer, who advanced to the quarter-finals. Kadijat's spirited display was not enough to keep her medal hopes alive, continuing Nigeria's difficult run in the sport.

Kadijat's exit follows the earlier eliminations of Ayomide Foly Hassan and Abdulramon Abdulwahab on Friday, and David Akintola on Saturday. Hassan lost comprehensively on points to Lesotho's Refiloe Thai in the men's 70kg Round of 32. Akintola, considered a promising prospect, was beaten by Tanzania's Yusef Lucasi Changalewa in the men's 80kg Round of 32.

With four of Nigeria's six-member boxing contingent now out of the competition, the pressure shifts to the two remaining fighters, Patricia Mbata and Blessing Orakwe. Mbata is scheduled to face England's Mary Smith in the women's 75kg quarter-final, while Orakwe will compete against Australia's Lekeisha Pergoliti in the women's 70kg quarter-final.

Despite Team Nigeria's success in other disciplines, particularly para powerlifting, boxing, historically a strong medal-producing sport for the country at the Commonwealth Games, has yet to secure a breakthrough in Glasgow. The remaining boxers carry Nigeria's slim hopes of avoiding a medal-less outcome in boxing.

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Despite a spirited display, Kadijat could not do enough to keep her Commonwealth Games medal hopes alive, extending Nigeria’s struggles in the discipline after three other boxers had already been eliminated in the opening days of competition.