Nigeria Wins Four Gold at Wrestling Championships

Nigeria made a dominant start at the African Senior Wrestling Championships, clinching four gold medals on day one of the women’s events in a commanding performance that set the tone for the competition.

The Nigerian team secured four out of five possible gold medals on Friday, with standout victories across multiple weight categories. Reigning African champion Esther Kolawole led the charge in the 62kg division, overpowering South Africa’s Katelyn Swan with a 10-0 superiority win to claim her fifth continental title.

Earlier, Ogunsanya Christianah delivered Nigeria’s first gold medal, defeating Ivory Coast’s Nogona Bakayoko 7-1 in the 53kg category. Jumoke Adekoye followed suit with an 8-4 victory over Algeria’s Achouak Tekouk in the 57kg division.

In the 73kg event, Hannah Ojo added to the tally with a composed 3-1 win against Cameroon’s Pelagie Wilita, sealing Nigeria’s fourth gold medal of the day and reinforcing the country’s pursuit of a 15th African women’s wrestling title.

Nigeria narrowly missed a clean sweep as Hannah Reuben secured a silver medal in her category, losing to Benin’s Kawiyatou Issifou.

Reacting to the team’s performance, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, President of the Nigeria Wrestling Federation, praised the athletes for their dedication and resilience. Attending his first African Championships in the role, he described the outing as a proud moment for the country.

He noted that Nigeria’s national anthem was played four times during the medal ceremonies, reflecting the team’s dominance on the mat. Adeniyi commended the wrestlers for elevating Nigeria’s profile in the sport and bringing pride to the nation.

The federation president also dedicated the victories to Oluremi Tinubu, citing her role in inspiring young Nigerian women to pursue excellence in various fields, including sports.

The championships continue on Saturday with men’s freestyle bouts and additional women’s events, as Team Nigeria looks to build on its strong opening performance.