Team Nigeria has dropped to the third place in the medal standings at the ongoing African Games after failing to win new gold medals on Wednesday.
South Africa now occupies the second spot with 77 medals (22 gold, 22 silver, and 33 bronze).
This development has prompted Nigeria which was initially occupying the second position after adding three silver and four bronze medals, to settle for the third position with 55 medals (22 gold, 13 silver, and 20 bronze).
Interestingly, Egypt continues to dominate the overall standings with a lead of 115 medals (65 gold, 27 silver, and 23 bronze) while Algeria sits in the fourth place with 81 medals (21 gold, 27 silver, and 33 bronze).
With just five medals (1 gold, 3 silver, and 1 bronze), the host nation, Ghana, has dropped down to 14th place.
Considering the zeal and passion from athletes to win more medals for their countries, team Nigeria was able to climb to the second position after Day 6 of the ongoing African Games in Ghana but later dropped.
This feat was made possible after the team with talented athletes and collective efforts grabbed 54 medals (22 gold, 13 silver and 19 bronze).
On top the table is Egypt, who is leading with 103 medals, which comprises 61 gold, 22 silver and 20 bronze medals.
Algeria occupy the third spot with 71 medals (19 gold, 24 silver and 28 bronze) while South Africa sit in fourth position with 19 gold, 20 silver and 32 bronze medals.
Tunisia are fifth with just six gold, 18 silver and 19 bronze medals.
Interestingly, Team Nigeria who missed out on the podium in the table tennis event, had to wait till Day 3 on Sunday to claim seven gold medals.
The country moved up in the medals table with a gold medal from badminton and six from wrestling.
Team Nigeria’s first gold at the ongoing edition of the games in Ghana came when African Games champion Anuoluwapo Opeyori opened the floodgates for Team Nigeria after beating compatriot Godwin Olofua 2-1 in the final to defend his men’s singles title in the badminton event.
The same feat was repeated a few hours later, when team Nigeria claimed all the available gold medals in the women’s wrestling event.
Mercy started with a defeat against Egyptian wrestler Nada Mohammed to clinch gold in the women’s 50kg freestyle.
While in the 53kg division, Christiana Ogunsanya defeated her Ivorian opponent, Bakayoko, to win the country’s second gold in wrestling.
Next was three-time Commonwealth champion, Adekuoroye Odunayo, who defeated her opponent Zineb Hassoune in just 24 seconds to clinch the third gold for Nigeria in the 57kg finals.
Esther Kolawole, Blessing Oborududu and Hannah Reuben all overpowered their opponents to win gold medals in the 62kg, 68kg and 76kg respectively.
On Day 4, Team Nigeria won three more gold in the weightlifting event through Edidiong Umoafia.
Competing in the 67kg, Umoafia emerged as the overall best, lifting 135kg snatch and 165kg clean and jerk for a total of 300kg.
Having gotten 12 gold medals on Tuesday, Team Nigeria joined their stronghold on the second spot on the table.
Earlier at the GCB Hall of the University Ghana Ruth Ayodele and Joy Eze won three gold medals each in the 64kg and 71kg respectively before Adijat Olarinoye, Rofiatu Lawal and Joy Ogbonne all claimed hat-tricks of gold medals in the weightlifting event.
Team Nigeria took their tally to 22 gold medals, with 15 gold medals from weightlifting, six from wrestling and one from badminton.
On Day 6 of the event, it was a different thing all together for Nigeria as they claimed only three silver and five bronze medals.
The total number of medals Nigeria has won is 54: 22 gold 13 silver and 19 bronze medals.
