Nigeria ends African Wrestling Championship in Brazzaville with Five Gold

Posted : 15 June 2026

Team Nigeria's impressive outing at the Central African Wrestling Championship in Brazzaville, Congo, has reinforced the Nigeria Wrestling Federation's commitment to grassroots athlete development, with the team returning home with five gold medals and one silver.

The Nigerian contingent excelled across freestyle, women's, and beach wrestling events, producing one of the country's strongest performances at the championship.

According to Promise Otokoto, Media Assistant to the Nigeria Wrestling Federation (NWF), the team began the competition in dominant fashion, winning all three events they entered on the opening day.

Terry Godfrey claimed gold in the men's 65kg freestyle category, while Andrew Woyinkorikiye emerged champion in the women's 53kg division. Precillia Archbone completed Nigeria's clean sweep by securing gold in the women's 45kg category.

The success continued in the beach wrestling events, where Woyinkorikiye and Archbone each won another gold medal. Godfrey added a silver medal to Nigeria's tally, bringing the team's final haul to five gold and one silver medal.

Despite the impressive medal count, Nigeria finished third overall behind DR Congo and host nation Congo Brazzaville, whose larger athlete contingents helped them secure first and second places respectively.

Beyond the medals, the championship served as another milestone in the athlete development programme championed by NWF President Adewale Adeniyi.

Adeniyi, who is also the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, stressed the importance of exposing wrestlers to international competition as part of a long-term strategy to strengthen the country's talent pipeline.

He noted that competing against foreign opponents enables athletes to experience different wrestling styles, tactical approaches, and higher levels of physical competition, all of which are essential for their growth.

According to him, international success not only motivates young athletes to pursue excellence but also increases their visibility to scouts and opens pathways to future opportunities.

Adeniyi further explained that regular international participation broadens athletes' cultural and social experiences while attracting greater public and private investment into sports development and infrastructure.

Nigeria's delegation to the championship comprised wrestlers Terry Godfrey, Andrew Woyinkorikiye, and Precillia Archbone, alongside coach Kingkuro Oyinbrakemi Tangi and NWF Assistant Secretary Abigail Ibrahim. Their participation was sponsored by the NWF President as part of efforts to provide emerging talents with valuable international exposure.

The remarkable performance of the contingent highlights the rich potential of Nigerian wrestlers when provided with adequate support and continental platforms. This successful outing establishes a solid foundation for the athletes as they prepare for future global tournaments. With sustained investment and strategic exposure, the federation looks poised to elevate the nation's sporting profile even higher.

Nigeria ends African Wrestling Championship in Brazzaville with Five Gold

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