Team Nigeria concludes African Senior Wrestling Championships with 10 gold medals
At the 2025 African Senior Wrestling Championships held in Casablanca, Morocco, Team Nigeria reaffirmed its dominance on the continental stage by securing an impressive haul of 10 gold medals, alongside one silver and two bronze. The team’s performance solidified Nigeria’s reputation as a powerhouse in African wrestling.
Kicking off the final day, veteran wrestler Mercy Genesis delivered a commanding 11-0 victory over Algeria’s Cheima Chebila in the 50kg category, adding another gold to Nigeria’s tally. Her performance built on the momentum established by her teammates on the opening day of the competition.
Nigeria’s winning streak continued in the 55kg women’s freestyle as Adijat Idris showcased tactical brilliance to overcome Algeria’s Achouak Tekouk. In the 59kg class, Jumoke Adekoye claimed gold with a decisive win over Egypt’s Rahma Hosafy Bediwy.
The Nigerian camp erupted in celebration again when Ebipatei Mughenbofa triumphed over South Africa’s Cara Plessis with an 8-2 scoreline in the 65kg division. Ebi Biogos added another top-podium finish in the 72kg category, defeating Rosie K. Tabora of the Democratic Republic of Congo 12-5. This brought Nigeria’s gold medal count in the women’s freestyle category to nine out of ten possible titles, despite the absence of star wrestler Mercy Adekuoroye due to illness.
In the men’s freestyle 65kg, Stephen Izolo made history by defeating Tunisia’s Farouk Jelassi 5-1. His victory marked Nigeria’s first men’s freestyle gold medal at the African Championships in four years.
Elsewhere, Ebikeme Newlife claimed silver in the 92kg class after a hard-fought final against Cameroon’s Cedric Abossolo. Bronze medals were secured by Tope Adebayo in the 70kg category after a 6-1 win over Morocco’s Otmane Bahja, and Ebierelayefa Andrew in the 74kg, who dominated South Africa’s Jesse Burger Christiaan with an 11-0 superiority score.
