AFOLABI SAHEED OLAWALE
Nigeria yet again proved to be the powerhouse in African women wrestling after emerging overall winners in the Women category of the African Wrestling Championships held in Alexandria, Egypt.
Nigeria recorded 8 gold and 2 silver out of 10 available medals to clinch the title for a record 15-time.
After an impressive day- one outing with four gold out of possible five, Commonwealth champion Mercy Genesis started for team Nigeria, where they left off by beating Chahrazed AYACHI of Tunisia 6-0 to begin the gold rain.
Adijat Idris 55kg followed the gold medal trajectory by adding another gold for Nigeria, beating Lobna ICHAOUI of Tunisia 8-0.
In the same vein, Esther ASAOLU in the 59kg dispatched Egyptian Mariam Mosbeh 10-0 to win what is Nigeria’s 3rd gold on the night Mercy Adekuoroye 65kg concluded the incredible day two gold medal haul for the women with a sweat less pinfall performance against Lec Hej Marlyne ANDE of the Central Africa Republic.
Narrowly, Ebi Biogos, who had total control of her tie with 35 seconds before timeout, lost to Zaineb SGHAIER of Tunisia 6-2 in the 72kg final to settle for silver.
In what looked like an evening of silver settlement for the men, Harrison Onovwiomogbhwo broke that narrative by upsetting Egyptian home favourite Mohamed Mostafa 10-4 to win Nigeria’s only gold medal in the men’s freestyle.
Earlier, Nigeria’s duo, Ebierelayefa Andrew, lost to Omar Mohamed of Egypt on pinfal 74kg while 65kg Stephen AKINTEWE missed out to another Egyptian Shehabeldin Emam to settle for silver respectively.n
Dideikemei Erefagha beat Elie DJEKOUNDAKOM of Chad 12-0 70kg as Solomon Ulabo defeated Madagascar’s Totiana RAZAFINJATO 6-0 pinfall in the 79kg to win bronze medals.
Also, in the 61kg, Saviour Egoli beat Mustapha BATNINI of Tunisia in a technical 5-5 scoreline to acquire a bronze medal.
The men ended the tournament as 3rd overall best, resulting in a podium finish.
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