The 40th edition of the African Wrestling Championships concluded in Casablanca, Morocco with Nigeria placing second behind Egypt in the overall medal standings, capping an impressive outing for the team, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
Team Nigeria won a total of 12 medals, 10 gold, one silver, and one bronze, finishing just behind Egypt, who amassed 24 medals comprising 11 gold, eight silver, and five bronze.
The Nigerian women’s team was the standout performer, dominating the freestyle category by clinching nine of the 10 gold medals available. The only gold medal not won by Nigeria in that category went to Algeria’s Chaimaa Aouissi in the 57kg event.
Gold medallists for Nigeria in the women’s freestyle were Mercy Genesis (50kg), Christianah Ogunsanya (53kg), Adijat Idris (55kg), Jumoke Adekoye (59kg), Esther Kolawole (62kg), Ebipatei Mughenbofa (65kg), Hannah Rueben (68kg), Ebi Biogos (72kg), and Damola Ojo (76kg).
Nigeria’s sole gold in the men’s freestyle came from Stephen Izolo in the 65kg category, where he defeated Tunisia’s Farouk Jelassi with Egypt’s Said Ibrahim Elgahsh and Guinea-Bissau’s Wotna Cana Ndoc taking the bronze medals in that event.
To add to the tally, Tope Adebayo earned a bronze in the men’s 70kg freestyle, after falling short against Tunisia’s Khairiddine Ben Tlili and Egypt’s Mohamed Elsayed Ahmed. Meanwhile, Ebikeme Newlife won the team’s only silver in the 92kg class, finishing behind Cameroon’s Cédric Abossolo.
The championships also featured age-grade competitions in the U-20 for juniors and U-17 for cadets categories, with Nigeria not participating in both.