Nigeria Extends Lead at West Africa Para Games

Team Nigeria stretched its commanding lead at the maiden West Africa Para Games in Abeokuta on Monday, widening the gap on the medals table and setting the tone for another strong outing as Tuesday’s events get underway.

Nigeria, the host nation, has maintained a relentless push across multiple sports, collecting 25 medals so far. The tally includes 9 gold, 11 silver, and 5 bronze, putting the team far ahead of its regional rivals. Officials say the performance reflects the spirit of this year’s theme, *Heroes Call*, which appears to have inspired the athletes who have dominated most of the events since the Games began.

Benin Republic remains a distant second with 2 gold medals and 6 bronze medals. Côte d’Ivoire follows in third place with 1 gold. Ghana sits in fourth position with 1 silver and 5 bronze medals, while Cameroon, Liberia, Niger, and Togo have yet to record any medals.

Nigeria’s impressive run continued on Monday with the women’s wheelchair basketball team putting up one of the day’s strongest performances. Led by Gbemisola Ejubamigbe, the team eased past Ghana 13–2 to claim the gold medal. The victory added to Nigeria’s growing dominance in wheelchair basketball, where expectations are high for additional medals.

Attention now shifts to Tuesday’s schedule, where Team Nigeria aims to sweep the men’s and mixed wheelchair basketball categories at the Alake Sports Centre in Ijeja. The mixed round-robin stage will feature Nigeria against Ghana, while Benin faces Niger Republic. In the men’s fixtures, Nigeria meets Ghana, Niger plays Benin, and Benin returns to the court later to take on Nigeria.

Officials say the athletes remain motivated and focused on closing the Games as overall champions. With multiple events still ahead, Team Nigeria is expected to extend its lead even further, solidifying its status as host and top contender.

The first West Africa Para Games is seen as a major platform for strengthening regional para sports and highlighting the resilience and talent of athletes across West Africa. For Nigeria, hosting and dominating the Games has become both a symbolic moment and a boost to its growing investment in para sports development.