Nigeria dominates again with record 15th African Women's wrestling title
Nigeria reinforced its supremacy on the continental stage by securing a record-extending 15th African women’s wrestling title at the African Wrestling Championships in Alexandria, Egypt.
The Nigerian women delivered an outstanding performance, winning eight gold and two silver medals across 10 events to comfortably emerge as overall champions. It was yet another powerful display from a team that continues to set the benchmark in African wrestling.
After claiming four gold medals on the opening day, the team carried its momentum into day two. Mercy Genesis set the tone with a commanding 6-0 victory over Tunisia’s Chahrazed Ayachi.
Adijat Idris followed with an equally dominant 8-0 win against Lobna Ichaoui in the 55kg category, while Esther Asaolu overwhelmed Egypt’s Mariam Mosbeh 10-0 in the 59kg division.
Veteran star Mercy Adekuoroye capped a flawless campaign in the 65kg category, sealing victory with a clinical pinfall against Central African Republic’s Lec Hej Marlyne Ande.
The only setback came in the 72kg final, where Ebi Biogos narrowly missed out on gold, losing 6-2 to Tunisia’s Zaineb Sghaier despite leading late in the bout.
In the men’s freestyle competition, Nigeria initially struggled to convert chances into gold, but Harrison Onovwiomogbhwo delivered a standout performance. He defeated Egypt’s Mohamed Mostafa 10-4 to secure Nigeria’s only gold medal in the category.
Ebierelayefa Andrew (74kg) and Stephen Akintewe (65kg) both earned silver medals after falling short in their finals against Egyptian opponents.
Bronze medals also boosted Nigeria’s tally, with Dideikemei Erefagha recording a dominant 12-0 win over Chad’s Elie Djekoundakom in the 70kg category. Solomon Ulabo added another bronze via pinfall against Madagascar’s Totiana Razafinjato in the 79kg division, while Saviour Egoli edged Tunisia’s Mustapha Batnini in the 61kg event.
The men’s team finished third overall, rounding off a successful outing for Nigeria.
Once again, the championship highlighted Nigeria’s dominance in women’s wrestling and pointed to growing potential in the men’s division—an encouraging sign for the nation’s future on the global stage.
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