Team Nigeria is eyeing a historic first-ever gold medal at the 6th African Military Boxing Championship in Rabat, Morocco, after clinching four bronze medals and advancing two boxers into the final stages of the competition.
The PUNCH reported that under the leadership of coach Aweda Kehinde, a former Olympian who represented Nigeria at the 1996 Atlanta Games and now serves as the Nigerian Army’s boxing coach, the military boxing squad has delivered a commendable campaign.
The championship, which began on June 14, is set to conclude on Sunday, June 22.
So far, Nigeria has secured four bronze medals, with high hopes for more as two of its standout fighters remain in contention for top honors.
Rilwan Lawal, representing the Nigerian Army, has booked his place in the final and is now within reach of securing Nigeria’s maiden gold medal in the tournament’s history.
His progress to the gold medal bout stands as a major highlight of Nigeria’s journey in Morocco.
Meanwhile, fellow Army boxer Gbadamosi Quadri is currently battling in the semi-final round, offering another potential pathway to the gold podium.
The bronze medalists have already guaranteed Nigeria a strong presence on the medal table.
Balogun Emmanuel Adeola of the Air Force picked up a bronze medal following a spirited campaign in his weight division.
From the Army ranks, Samson Kazeem and Ambrose Godwin each earned bronze in their respective categories, adding to the Army’s growing tally at the competition.
The Navy was not left out, as Akeem Adebamiji added to Nigeria’s overall count with a bronze, making it a true tri-service effort and showcasing the diverse talent pool within the Armed Forces.
However, the championship has also brought its share of tough exits. Nigerian Army boxer Qoyum Qozeem and Air Force’s Balogun Al-Ameen Olamide both bowed out at the quarter-final stage.
The event in Rabat has offered Nigeria’s military athletes a vital platform to demonstrate their abilities on a continental stage.
The steady hand of Coach Kehinde, with his Olympic pedigree, has clearly helped shape the team’s performance at this high level of competition.
With the tournament now approaching its grand finale, attention turns to Lawal’s championship bout and Quadri’s semi-final fight, two clashes that could elevate Nigeria’s solid performance to a golden finish at the African Military Boxing Championship.