Ghana’s quest for a boxing medal at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow remains on course after African champion Amadu Mohammed advanced to the quarterfinals of the men’s bantamweight (55kg) event with an assured opening victory.
The 2023 African Games gold medalist defeated Kiribati’s Temakau Eriu in the round of 16 at the SEC Hall, keeping alive Ghana’s hopes of reaching the podium. Mohammed is now just one victory away from securing a medal, as a win in the quarterfinals would guarantee him a place among the medalists.
Widely regarded as one of Team Ghana’s brightest medal prospects, Mohammed delivered a composed and disciplined performance that reflected the form which has established him as one of Africa’s top amateur boxers.
After the bout, the Ghanaian expressed gratitude to his coaches and supporters, while urging Ghanaians to continue praying for the team as he prepares for his biggest fight of the tournament.
“I’m very proud because our coach supported us and prayed for us that we would get there. My message to Ghanaians is to keep praying for us. We are not done yet. Let’s reach the medal zone and then we will have more to say,” Mohammed said.
His victory provides a major boost for Team Ghana after an earlier disappointment in the boxing competition. Two-time Commonwealth Games bronze medalist Abdul Wahid Omar suffered a first-round exit in the men’s 65kg division, losing by a unanimous 5-0 points decision to England’s Patris Mughalzai in the round of 32.
The setback had briefly dented Ghana’s medal hopes, but Mohammed’s progression has restored optimism within the camp.
President of the Ghana Olympic Committee, Richard Akpokavi, praised Mohammed’s performance, describing him as one of Ghana’s strongest medal contenders at the Games.
“He is one of our top boxers and an African champion. We believe he is one of the potential medalists for us,” Akpokavi said.
The GOC president acknowledged that major multi-sport competitions often take time to gather momentum but expressed confidence that Ghana’s campaign would improve as more athletes enter competition.
“When you come to a competition like this, you expect it. It starts slowly sometimes, but the important thing is that there are many more fights and many more competitions ahead of us,” he added.
Elsewhere, Nancy Bamfo faced Northern Ireland’s Nicole Clyde in the women’s 54kg round of 16, while Adelaide Dede Abaitey took on Fiji’s Jasmine Duanakamakama in the women’s 57kg division as Ghana continued its pursuit of success in the boxing competition.
All eyes will now be on Tuesday, July 28, when Mohammed returns to the ring for his quarterfinal contest. A victory would secure Ghana’s first boxing medal of the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games and further strengthen the African champion’s growing reputation on the international stage.
