Nigerian wrestlers have departed Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, their preparatory base ahead of the 13th African Games.
The 20-man contingent, led by the president of the Nigeria Wrestling Federation, Daniel Igali left the Port Harcourt Airport for Abuja on Tuesday.
The wrestlers and their officials will then leave the country for Accra, Ghana on Wednesday.
Igali is optimistic the wrestlers will do well at the games.
“This is the African Games and as you know our athletes have been in training camp here in Yenagoa and I think the expectation we have from the athletes is for everyone to give their best efforts,” he stated.
“We believe that the work we’ve done in the past few weeks with 100% performance would bring good fruits to Nigeria.”
The captain of the Nigeria Wrestling team, Olympic silver medalist Blessing Oborodudu stated her desire to make Nigeria proud with her performance.
“Going for the African Games my expectation is to perform my 100% best and by the special grace of God I will defend my title which is the gold medal.”
An African Games debutant, Ashton Mutuwa 125kg expressed confidence in giving a good account of himself despite making his first appearance at the African Games.
“I’m going there with high expectations and I’m going to Wrestling hard, we’ve been training hard and I’m looking forward to the African Games; yea I would really like to get gold.”
The 13th African Games begin March 8th and the wrestling event is scheduled for 9,10 and 11th March, 2024 in Accra, Ghana.
FULL LIST OF WRESTLERS
1. GENESIS MIESINNEI MERCY (50kg)
2. OGUNSANYA CHRISTINAH TOLULOPE (53kg)
3. ADEKUOROYE ODUNAYO FOLASADE (57kg)
4. KOLAWOLE ESTHER OMOLAYO (62kg)
5. OBORUDUDU BLESSING (68kg)
6. RUEBEN HANNAH AMUCHECHI (76kg)
MEN FREESTYLE:
7. ENOZUNOMI SIMON (57kg)
8. IZOLO STEPHEN SIMON (65kg)
9. BRAVERMAN OYEINKEPEREMO (74kg)
10. ONOVWIOMOGBOHWO HARRISON (86kg)
11. MUTUWA ASHTON ADEYEMI-AMIN (125kg)
GRECO-ROMAN:
12. NWORIE EMMANUEL CHINONSO (77kg)
13. ULABO SOLOMON (87kg)
14. OKURO AUGUSTINE (130kg)
OFFICIALS:
1. AKUH PURITY
2. BURUTU HAPPINESS
3. VICTOR KODEI
4. GODSWILL TEIBRIL
