Team Nigeria cemented their status as Africa’s wrestling powerhouse with a dazzling show at the 2025 African Senior Wrestling Championships in Morocco, bagging 10 golds, one silver and two bronze medals in a commanding campaign.
The star-studded squad wrapped up the tournament in style, led by multiple African champion Mercy Genesis, who wasted no time asserting dominance on Day 2 with an 11-0 technical superiority victory over Algeria’s Cheima Chebila in the women’s 50kg category.
Adijat Idris followed suit in the 55kg class, outwitting Algeria’s Achouak Tekouk to add to Nigeria’s gold rush, while Jumoke Adekoye overpowered Egypt’s Rahma Hosafy Bediwy to grab gold in the 59kg.
The winning streak continued with Ebipatei Mughenbofa beating South Africa’s Cara Plessis 8-2 in the 65kg, before Ebi Biogos rounded off the women’s freestyle events with a convincing 12-5 win over Congo DR’s Rosie Tabora in the 72kg category.
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The team claimed nine golds out of 10 events entered in the women’s division, despite the absence of top wrestler Mercy Adekuoroye, ruled out due to illness.
The men’s team also made headlines as Stephen Izolo stunned Tunisia’s Farouk Jelassi 5-1 to clinch Nigeria’s first men’s freestyle gold in four years, triumphing in the 65kg category.
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Ebikeme Newlife (92kg) settled for silver after losing to Cameroon’s Cedric Abossolo in the final, while Tope Adebayo (70kg) and Ebierelayefa Andrew (74kg) added bronze medals, with Andrew securing an 11-0 superiority win over South Africa’s Jesse Christiaan.
