Nigeria’s lone female boxer at the 6th edition of the Saudi Solidarity Games in Riyadh, Adeshina Zainab Motunrayo, has secured a silver medal after an impressive display in the women’s 51kg flyweight category.

 

Zainab, who represented Nigeria with remarkable determination, fell short in the final against Turkey’s Rabia Topuz, whose superior technique and power earned her the gold medal. The bout was stopped in the third round by the referee after Zainab received two standing counts.

 

Earlier in the tournament, Zainab displayed exceptional skill and resilience, defeating Algeria’s Mansouri Fatiha (4–1) in the semi-finals to book her place in the championship match.

 

The Nigerian boxing team, led by Coach Oyeleye Abayomi, featured Raheem Ridwan in the men’s 65kg welterweight division alongside Zainab. Ridwan bowed out in the semi-finals after losing by split decision (4–1) to Uzbekistan’s Abdullahi Madaminov in a fiercely contested bout.

 

Reacting to the team’s performance, Vice President of the Nigeria Boxing Federation (NBF), Hon. Omonlei Imadu, commended the athletes for their courage, discipline, and fighting spirit throughout the competition.

 

“Our boxers showed bravery and resilience on the global stage. Zainab’s silver medal is proof that Nigeria remains a strong force in amateur boxing,” Imadu said.

 

He added that the Federation will now focus on preparing Nigerian boxers for major international qualifiers in 2026, while also investing in grassroots talent development programs to discover and nurture the next generation of champions.

 

The medal in Riyadh marks another milestone for Nigerian boxing, underscoring the nation’s growing presence in women’s boxing and reaffirming its commitment to excellence in international competitions.