Head coach of Nigeria’s Para Powerlifting team, Ruel Ishaiku, has praised the resilience and mentality of his athletes after the country finished second overall at the African Open Para-Powerlifting Championships in Oran despite limited preparation.
Nigeria produced an outstanding performance at the championships, finishing with 49 medals — including 32 gold, 12 silver, and five bronze medals.
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“It was the resilience and mentality of the athletes that carried us through,” Ishaiku said.
According to the Nigerian coach, the team entered the competition with very little preparation but still managed to compete at an elite level.
“We barely had proper preparation before the tournament,” he implied.
Only Egypt finished above Nigeria on the medal table after securing 84 medals overall.
Despite the challenges, Nigeria’s athletes still delivered one of the strongest performances at the competition.
“The athletes showed incredible determination,” Ishaiku noted.
The championships also served as qualification opportunities for the World Championships scheduled for December in Bahrain and contributed ranking points toward qualification for the 2028 Paralympic Games in Los Angeles.
“These competitions are very important for Paralympic qualification,” he added.
Nigeria continues maintaining a strong reputation in para powerlifting globally despite recurring concerns surrounding funding and preparation.
“The country remains a powerhouse in para sports,” many sports observers believe.
Ishaiku remains optimistic that better preparation in future competitions could help Nigeria achieve even greater success internationally.
“Imagine what this team could achieve with ideal preparation,” he stressed.
For the Nigerian coach, the message is clear.
Mentality matters greatly.
Preparation challenges must improve.
And Nigeria’s para athletes continue proving their strength on the continental stage.
Because resilience and determination often separate champions from the rest.
