Team Nigeria’s boxing campaign at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games suffered another major setback on Saturday as David Akintola became the country’s second boxer to exit the competition after losing to Yusuf Lucasi Changalawa of Tanzania in the Men’s 80kg Round of 32.
Akintola, who travelled to Glasgow full of confidence after declaring that his mission was to win a Commonwealth Games gold medal, was beaten 4-1 on points by the Tanzanian after a closely contested three-round contest.
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The Nigerian boxer showed flashes of brilliance and fought with determination, but Changalawa finished the stronger of the two fighters, landing crucial punches in the closing stages of the bout to convince the judges and book his place in the Round of 16.
A photograph from the contest captured one of the decisive moments, with the Tanzanian connecting with a clean right hand during the final round—an exchange that proved significant in swinging the judges’ scorecards in his favour.
The defeat means Akintola joins Abdulramon Abdulwahab on the list of Nigerian boxers eliminated from the tournament. Abdulwahab had earlier lost by unanimous 5-0 decision to Uganda’s Nuhu Batte in the Men’s 65kg Round of 32, leaving Team Nigeria searching for its first boxing victory in Glasgow.
The result will be particularly disappointing for Akintola, who had spoken confidently before the Games about his ambitions.
“My target is to win the gold medal. I believe in my ability, and I have worked hard to prepare for this competition,” the middleweight boxer said before departing for Scotland.
That dream, however, came to an abrupt end against a composed Tanzanian opponent who executed his tactics effectively and earned a deserved passage into the next round.
Despite the successive defeats, Team Nigeria’s boxing contingent still has opportunities to revive its campaign, with the remaining fighters expected to carry the nation’s hopes of returning to the podium in one of Nigeria’s traditional medal-winning sports.
Sports247, reporting from Glasgow, observed that the latest defeat was a difficult one for the Nigerian camp, especially after the country’s outstanding performances in para powerlifting. Attention will now shift to the remaining boxers, who face the task of restoring Nigeria’s challenge in the ring and keeping alive the country’s proud boxing tradition at the Commonwealth Games.
Sports247 Medal Watch – Team Nigeria
🥇 Gold: 3
🥈 Silver: 3
🥉 Bronze: 0
Total: 6
Medal Winners
🥇 Esther Nworgu – Women’s Lightweight Para Powerlifting (Commonwealth Games Record)
🥇 Folashade Oluwafemiayo – Women’s Heavyweight Para Powerlifting (World Record)
🥇 Riluwan Idris – Men’s Heavyweight Para Powerlifting
🥈 Roland Ezuruike – Men’s Lightweight Para Powerlifting
🥈 Esther Oyema – Women’s Lightweight Para Powerlifting
🥈 Rita Ferdinand – Women’s Heavyweight Para Powerlifting (World Record)
