Race for Glasgow Begins as NBF Opens Final Camping with 40 Boxers in Lagos

Posted : 30 April 2026

The battle for places in Nigeria’s boxing team to the 2026 Commonwealth Games has officially entered its decisive phase, as the Nigeria Boxing Federation (NBF) has shortlisted 40 boxers for its final open camping exercise in Lagos.

The selected athletes, 20 male and 20 female, are largely drawn from finalists at the National Boxing Open Trials held in February, setting the stage for a keenly contested selection process across all weight categories.

According to the federation, invitation letters have been dispatched to the boxers, coaches, and technical officials ahead of the camping, which opens on Friday, May 1.

The athletes are expected to report at the Lieutenant General Kenneth Minimah (Rtd) Boxing Hall, located within the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos, with full training activities commencing on Saturday, May 2.

At stake are just ten slots on Team Nigeria’s roster for the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, with the camp serving as the final platform to assess and select the country’s best talents.

Chairman of the NBF Technical Committee, Babatunde Laguda, stressed the importance of early and thorough preparation, noting that the federation is determined to give its athletes a competitive edge.

"The NBF board under the leadership of Hon. Wale Edun has prioritized early camping for every international event. Hence, the Nigeria Boxing Federation has taken the lead in calling athletes to camp ahead of the Commonwealth Games."

"This phase of the trials is very crucial because from the 40 boxers we have invited, the ten that will fly Nigeria’s flag in Glasgow, Scotland will emerge," Laguda added.

Also speaking, NBF Vice President, Hon. Omonlei Imadu, reaffirmed the federation’s commitment to merit-based selection, insisting that only the most deserving fighters will represent the country.

"The current leadership of the NBF is always out to correct the narrative; the model for picking athletes for international events has changed under our watch. It is no longer business as usual for the journeymen in the squared-rope sports.

"The National Sports Commission (NSC) has given us a mandate ahead of the Commonwealth Games, and to deliver on this, we must ensure that the boxers who will consist the final list to Glasgow truly merit their inclusion," Imadu said.

Nigeria is expected to parade 10 boxers at the 2026 Commonwealth Games scheduled to hold from July 23 to August 3 in Glasgow, Scotland, with the federation maintaining its ambitious target of winning ten medals from the tournament.

The rigorous selection process ensures that only the most elite athletes represent Nigeria on the international stage. With intense training and a focus on merit, the NBF aims to secure a historic medal haul in Glasgow.

Race for Glasgow Begins as NBF Opens Final Camping with 40 Boxers in Lagos

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