Sports
Africa Armwrestling Championships:Team Nigeria Emerges Second
Team Nigeria Armwrestlers emerged second on the medals table at the just concluded 9th Africa Armwrestling Championships in Accra, Ghana.
Tidesports source reports that they clinched six gold, six silver and six bronze behind Ghana the host country which came first.
Ghana came first with 31 gold, 32 silver and 25 bronze while Mali came third.
The competition which started on July 25 ended at weekend at the Accra Sports Stadium.
Olatunji Jackson, president, Nigeria Armwrestling Federation told newsmen on telephone from Accra yesterday that the federation was impressed with the team’s performance.
Jackson said that the competition was keenly competed one by the African nation and every participant was poised to win.
“I must commend our athletes, they did very well I must say but, of course, there are still room for improvement.
“The Nigerian team this time around did a lot better especially as the African Championship was staged outside Nigeria.
“The team’s head coach, Femi Akinsanya concentrated so much on athletes fitness and it paid off here in Accra especially against tough opponents from Ghana and Mali.
“We never knew we were going to beat Mali to the second position, the Nigerian athletes gave their all and went to the table to win.
“Our gold medalist in the women’s 70kg class, Victoria Johnson, missed the first day of event where the left hand challenge was held and some athletes who were present won medals.
“ She came in on the final day of the competition and just two hours into the competition, she emerged a gold medalist.
“It will interest you that, it was her gold medal that made the difference and move us to second position in the continental championship that had all the best athletes from Africa.
“Johnson won all her fights. It was wild jubilation here for team Nigeria, “ he said.
Jackson added that with the results in Ghana, the federation has resolved to start preparations for the next edition of the championship in Bamako, Mali.
“” We know we have to up our game and one of the plans to emerge victorious in Mali is the training challenge competition partnership we just signed with the Cameroon Armwrestling Federation here in Ghana.
“The partnership will see Nigeria travel to Cameroon for training and mini tournament and vice visa.
“In all these, our main concern is funding, the board members have been spending personal funds, which of course is not enough,” he said
The Bayelsa State government, yesterday, announced that the marathon will be held on Saturday, April 4, 2026.
The inaugural race is owned by the Bayelsa State Government and will be organised by Nilayo Sports Management Limited, a sports management company.
Under the theme “The Reveal,” the race represents a bold unveiling of Bayelsa’s immense human and cultural potential to the international community, inviting the world to witness the resilience, grit, and talent rooted in the heart of the Niger Delta.
According to the organisers, the race will be flagged off at 9:30 a.m., at the Opolo Roundabout, guiding participants through a carefully designed 10-kilometre route that highlights the scenic beauty and vibrant atmosphere of Yenagoa.
The course will culminate at Peace Park Square, where athletes will cross the finish line into a grand celebration of endurance, unity, and community spirit.
To elevate the experience for runners and spectators alike, the finish venue will host a high-energy post-race concert featuring performances from top A-list artistes, blending sport and entertainment in a festival-style atmosphere.
The organisers directed all registered participants to collect their race bibs and kits at the designated Peace Park Square between March 30 and April 3, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. daily.
The race, according to them, is currently on track for World Athletics accreditation, underscoring the commitment of both the Bayelsa State Government and Nilayo Sports Management Limited to delivering an event that meets the highest global standards.
The Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Bukola Olopade, on Friday continued the Commission’s nationwide appreciation tour with a visit to Abeokuta, where outstanding junior athlete, Majekodunmi Afusat Bisola, was presented with a cheque of N3 million.
The presentation forms part of the NSC’s initiative to recognise and reward exceptional junior athletes who distinguished themselves in 2025 and contributed significantly to Nigeria’s medal haul.
Majekodunmi delivered an impressive run of performances on the track. At the last edition of the National Sports Festival, she stormed to gold in the 400m and the 4x400m relay. She replicated the double triumph at the Confederation of African Athletics (CAA) Junior Championship, in Abeokuta, before emerging as one of the standout stars at the African Youth Games in Luanda, Angola.
Speaking during the presentation, Olopade explained that the Commission deemed it necessary to extend financial appreciation to grassroots athletes after elite performers had earlier received grants running into thousands of dollars.
“A few weeks ago, after paying grants to our elite athletes, we agreed tthere was a need to also appreciate these young, budding talents who made Nigeria proud last year,” he said.
He disclosed that of the 376 medals recorded by Nigerian athletes in 2025, more than 200 were won by grassroots talents, underscoring the importance of sustained investment in youth development.
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