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The President of the Nigeria Wrestling Federation (NWF), Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, PhD, has reaffirmed his support for Team Nigeria as the country’s contingent departed for the 2026 World Wrestling Championships in Astana, Kazakhstan.
The contingent departed the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on Friday, October 23, 2026 ahead of the global competition scheduled to run until November 1, 2026.
The Nigerian team comprises 11 wrestlers, including eight female and three male athletes, who will compete against some of the world’s best wrestlers for honours at the championship.
Bidding farewell to the athletes before their departure, Adeniyi, who also serves as the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, charged the wrestlers to represent the country with pride and strive for victory on the global stage.
He urged the athletes to translate their dominance on the African continent into outstanding performances at the world level, stressing the need for Nigeria to establish itself as a force to be reckoned with in international wrestling
The NWF president expressed confidence in the team’s ability to deliver impressive results, noting that the athletes had the opportunity to make the country proud through determination, discipline, and competitive excellence.
“We must represent Nigeria with pride and strive for victory on the global stage. Having dominated the African continent, the time has come for us to translate that success into outstanding performances at the world level.
“The federation has high expectations for this team, and we believe the athletes have what it takes to make Nigeria proud and restore the country’s medal-winning fortunes at the World Wrestling Championships,” Adeniyi said.
The NWF boss’s charge comes as Nigerian wrestlers seek to build on their achievements at continental competitions and demonstrate their readiness to compete against top-ranked opponents from across the world.
According to Adeniyi, the federation is particularly hopeful that the team will end Nigeria’s three-year medal drought at the World Wrestling Championships, making the competition a significant test of the country’s progress in the sport.
Below are the names of athletes, coaches, and officials heading for the World Wrestling Championships in Kazakhstan
Female
- Genesis Mercy Miesinnei 50kg
- Ogunsanya Christianah Tolulope 53kg
- Idris Adijat Avorshai 55kg
- Adekoye Jumoke Bukola 57kg
- Asaolu Esther Olamide 59kg
- Kolawole Esther 62kg
- Adekuoroye Mercy 68kg
- Ojo Damola Hannah 76kg
Male
9. Akintewe Stephen Tope 65kg
10. Andrew Ebierelayefa Allison 74kg
11. Onovwiomogbhwo Harrison 97kg
Coaches
12. Akuh Purity
13. Blessing Oborududu
14. Agberekeme Areh
15. Kadel Jacob Lee
Officials
16. Bashir Adeniyi Adewale (President)
17. Amkpila Christopher (Vice President
18. Ademisoro Bode Oluwasegun (Secretary General)
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