2026 West African University Games: OAU wins as other Nigerian varsities shine

Obafemi Awolowo University Ile-Ife was declared overall winner of the 15th West African University Games.

It won the games with 122 medals, comprising 33 gold, 50 silver and 39 bronze, the official medal table on the Games’ social media handles on Sunday indicated.

The competition was hosted by OAU in Ile-Ife, Osun State from October 2-12.

Over 50 universities with more than 1,500 athletes and officials participated across 18 sports in the games.

Other Nigerian varsities also shone at the regional competition for undergraduates with Benson Idahosa University finishing third with 21 gold, 10 silver and seven bronze medals.

University of Ibadan was fourth with 17 gold, 12 silver and 13 bronze medals.

Nigerian universities would have finished as the top ten in the entire region but for the University of Ghana, which placed second with 59 medals, comprising 26 gold, 21 silver and 12 bronze and University of Cape Coast, which placed ninth with six gold, one silver, nine bronze totalling 16 medals.

Below is the full medal table for the 15th West African University Games:

Full WAUG 2026 medal table

– 1. Obafemi Awolowo University: 33 gold, 50 silver, 39 bronze — 122 medals

– 2. University of Ghana: 26 gold, 21 silver, 12 bronze — 59 medals

– 3. Benson Idahosa University: 21 gold, 10 silver, seven bronze — 38 medals

– 4. University of Ibadan: 17 gold, 12 silver, 13 bronze — 42 medals

– 5. Lagos State University: 10 gold, four silver, three bronze — 17 medals

– 6. Afe Babalola University: nine gold, 14 silver, 19 bronze — 42 medals

– 7. Delta State University, Abraka: seven gold, two silver, two bronze — 11 medals

– 8. University of Ilorin: six gold, four silver, six bronze — 16 medals

– 9. University of Cape Coast: six gold, one silver, nine bronze — 16 medals

– 10. Nile University of Nigeria: six gold, one silver, two bronze — nine medals

– 11. Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology: five gold, four silver, three bronze — 12 medals

– 12. Ladoke Akintola University of Technology: three gold, five silver, six bronze — 14 medals

– 13. Rev. Fr. Moses Orshio Adasu University, Makurdi: two gold, three silver, five bronze — 10 medals

– 14. University for Development Studies: two gold, two silver, two bronze — six medals

– 15. University of Abuja: one gold, six silver, six bronze — 13 medals

– 16. University of Energy and Natural Resources: one gold, two silver, seven bronze — 10 medals

– 17. Federal University, Oye-Ekiti: one gold, one silver, four bronze — six medals

– 18. Osun State University: no gold, six silver, 10 bronze — 16 medals

– 19. Lead City University: no gold, two silver, one bronze — three medals

– 19. University of Ilesa: no gold, one silver, six bronze — seven medals

– 20. Plateau State University: no gold, one silver, one bronze — two medals

– 21. Federal University of Agriculture and Technology, Okeho: no gold, no silver, four bronze — four medals

– 22. Federal University of Technology, Akure: no gold, no silver, three bronze — three medals