Team Nigeria reaffirmed its dominance in wrestling at the 2025 African Senior Wrestling Championships in Casablanca, Morocco, clinching an impressive 10 gold, 1 silver, and 2 bronze medals. The tournament showcased Nigeria’s continued supremacy, concluding in a commanding fashion.
A Golden Performance in Women’s Freestyle
Multiple African Champion Mercy Genesis (50kg) set the tone for a victorious outing, overpowering Algeria’s Cheima Chebila in a stunning 11-0 superiority win to secure Nigeria’s first gold.
Adding to the streak, Adijat Idris (55kg) outclassed Algerian counterpart Achouak Tekouk, while Jumoke Adekoye (59kg) defeated Egypt’s Rahma Hosafy Bediwy to claim another gold.
The 65kg final witnessed Nigeria’s Ebipatei Mughenbofa triumph over South Africa’s Cara Plessis in an exciting 8-2 victory, further strengthening Nigeria’s grip on gold.
In the 72kg category, Ebi Biogos continued Nigeria’s dominance with a stellar 12-5 win over Congo DR’s Rosie K. Tabora. The Nigerian women’s team claimed 9 out of 10 gold medals in freestyle wrestling, solidifying their status as Africa’s wrestling powerhouse despite the absence of Mercy Adekuoroye, who was ruled out due to illness.
Men’s Freestyle Wrestling Breaks Four-Year Gold Drought
Nigeria’s Stephen Izolo (65kg) delivered a historic win, overcoming Tunisia’s Farouk Jelassi 5-1 to secure Nigeria’s first gold in men’s freestyle in four years. His remarkable achievement marked a milestone for Nigerian wrestling on the continental stage.
Meanwhile, in the 92kg men’s freestyle, Ebikeme Newlife fell short against Cameroon’s Cedric Abossolo in the final, settling for silver.
Adding to Nigeria’s medal haul, Tope Adebayo (70kg) clinched bronze with a 6-1 victory over Morocco’s Otmane Bahja, while Ebierelayefa Andrew (74kg) dominated South Africa’s Jesse Burger Christiaan 11-0 superiority to secure another bronze.
Nigeria’s Wrestling Future Looks Bright
With an outstanding total of 13 medals, including 10 gold, Nigeria’s performance at the African Senior Wrestling Championships underscores its continued dominance in continental wrestling. The country’s impressive achievements pave the way for future triumphs in global competitions.
