Nigerian wrestlers enjoyed a stellar day on Sunday at the ongoing African Games in Accra, Ghana, as all six female wrestlers won a gold medal each of their respective weight classes.
Mercy Genesis got the first gold medal for Nigeria in the women’s wrestling, defeating Egypt’s Nada Mohamed 7-0 to be crowned champion in the women’s 50kg freestyle event.
She became the first woman to win a gold medal for Nigeria at the 13th African Games in Accra, and the second Nigerian athlete to win a gold medal after Anuoluwapo Opeyori was victorious in the men’s badminton singles event earlier in the day.
The gold rush continued as Christiana Ogunsanya cruised to victory in the women’s 53kg wrestling event. The dominant wrestler defeated her Ivorian counterpart, Celine Josee Bakayoko, by technical superiority (11-0) to win Nigeria’s second gold medal in the women’s wrestling event.
Three-time Commonwealth champion Odunayo Adekuoroye extended Nigeria’s dominance by making it three gold medals with her triumph in the final of the women’s 57kg category.
She defeated Morocco’s Zainab Hassoune by pinfall (6-0), and the 30-year-old, who was very emotional, dedicated the medal to her late mother.
Adekuoroye said: “Coming here, I knew I was going to win the gold [medal], but I’m being emotional because of my mom.”
“Earlier, I saw a lot of people posting pictures and videos of their mothers on the internet, wishing them a ‘happy mother’s day’, and it brought tears to my eyes because my mom is late.
“And this medal is for her,” she added. “Mum, I know you are smiling in heaven. I love you so much.”
6 gold ???? for Nigeria Wrestlers
Nigeria fielded a total of 6 female wrestlers and won 6 gold medals in the respective weight classes at the 13th #AfricanGames in Ghana.
President of Nigeria Wrestling Federation, @dynamiteigali decorated the wrestlers#AfricanGames2023 #Accra pic.twitter.com/4GTvLTcLt8
— Dare Kuti ‘Gattuso’ (@dkuti82) March 10, 2024
A fourth gold medal in women’s wrestling was won for Nigeria by Esther Kolawole. The world U23 bronze medalist defeated her opponent in the 62kg category by technical superiority.
Shortly after, Olympic silver medalist Blessing Oborududu claimed the country’s fifth gold medal in wrestling and the sixth at the ongoing 13th African Games. Oborududu defeated Cameroon’s Blandine Nyeh Ngiri by technical superiority (14-4) in the women’s 68kg class.
African Champion Hannah Reuben crowned the country’s dominant performance on Sunday by defeating Ivory Coast’s Amy Youin 10-0 (technical superiority) in the 74kg category to win Nigeria’s sixth gold medal in women’s wrestling at the Games.
