Team Nigeria’s hopes of winning a boxing medal at the ongoing 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, suffered another setback after David Akintola crashed out in the opening round of the men’s 80kg event. Akintola was defeated 4-1 on points by Tanzania’s Yusef Lucasi Changalewa in their Round of 32 contest at the SEC Centre.
Akintola, regarded as one of Nigeria’s brightest boxing prospects, struggled to match his opponent’s pace throughout the three-round bout. Changalewa controlled the contest with sharper combinations, superior movement and cleaner punches, convincing four of the five judges to award him the victory and a place in the Round of 16.
The defeat further weakens Nigeria’s medal prospects in boxing, coming after the earlier eliminations of Ayomide Hassan and Abdulramon Abdulwahab, who also exited at the Round of 32 stage. With three Nigerian boxers now out of the competition, the country’s campaign in one of its traditional medal-winning sports is under increasing pressure.
Before the Games, Akintola had expressed confidence in his chances of winning gold, saying he believed his preparation and ability would carry him to the top of the podium. However, the Tanzanian boxer executed his tactics effectively and finished the contest strongly to end the Nigerian’s medal ambitions.
Despite the disappointing start in boxing, Team Nigeria remains in contention for medals in other events at the Commonwealth Games. Attention will now turn to the remaining Nigerian boxers and athletes as they seek to revive the country’s campaign and add to its medal tally in Glasgow.
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